I woke up this morning with “Victory in Jesus” stuck in my head, which is no surprise because it’s one of my favorite hymns and often ends up rolling around in my head for hours. This morning, however, the words were really just resonating with me.
Hebrews 4:15 in the Voice says, “For Jesus is not some high priest who has no sympathy for our weaknesses and flaws. He has already been tested in every way that we are tested; but He emerged victorious, without failing God.”
Jesus was completely human yet completely God. He walked, breathed, and lived on our very Earth. The verse says that He was “tested in every way that we are tested.” Jesus was tempted as we are, but He defeated temptation, as the verse says “He emerged victorious.”
After Jesus is resurrected but before He ascends to Heaven, He tells the people in Luke chapter 24 (NLT) that He is sending the Holy Spirit to them. In Matthew 28 (VOICE), Jesus tells the disciples that He will be with them “to the end of the age.”
When Jesus left this Earth He didn’t leave us all alone, He left us with the Holy Spirit to guide us, to give us the strength to fight temptation just as Jesus did when He was living among us.
Jesus’ death didn’t just give us the ability to find victory over temptation, but over the everyday situations in life. Because Jesus died and sent us the Spirit, we now have a personal connection with our Creator. Philippians chapter 4 tells us that we don’t have to succumb to the harmful clutches of worry and anxiety; we can go to God and exchange our worries for peace.
There is definitely victory in Jesus, and I am so thankful for it. I do not have to live my life chained to sin or circumstance. I know that Jesus understands my struggles, He understands my pain, He wants me to come to Him with my problems – and my praises – and He wants to give me peace that can only come from Him. Such a sweet message my God gave me this Saturday morning.
“So let us step boldly to the throne of grace, where we can find mercy and grace to help us when we need it most.” Hebrews 4:16 (VOICE)
Photo Credit: Japheth Mast
Words Sweeter Than Honey 