Through the Bible: Conquers in Christ.

This is the continuation of our trip through the Bible, if you haven’t read any of the previous posts feel free to click the “Through the Bible” category link at the bottom of the post or at the top of that page and take a look. If you want to join us the chronological schedule can be found at the top of the home page. You may notice I am behind currently so don’t feel bad if you are as well just stick with it. It will be worth it.

It is strange how even though I have read the entire bible I can read something almost as if I have never read it before. The text that really stood out to me was from Psalm 44.

Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long;

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.

23 Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord?

Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever!

24Why do you hide your face?

Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?

25For our soul is bowed down to the dust;

our belly clings to the ground.

26Rise up; come to our help!

Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!

In reading through the Old Testament we see places where the people turn their backs on God and suffer because of their sins, but in this psalm it is clear that they haven’t forgotten God and yet they are suffering.

More noticeable was Paul’s quotation of this passage in Romans 8:

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died-more than that, who was raised-who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I have often heard that we are conquerors in Christ but often ignored is the concept that if we are conquerors there must be something to conquer. We are not promised a smooth road or a peaceful journey. There is a concept of sanctified affliction that the church has completely lost in our attempts to ‘win the lost’. When we place Christ in the market place of ideas we often pitch it like a sale and look to ‘close the deal’ leaving out anything that may not be appealing.

Notice for who’s sake we are ‘being killed all day long’, for God’s. We are not promised a life of roses, a new car or a ‘best life’ the best life we can hope to live is one that brings glory to God. That may not look like a successful life but it may be your best life, and above all you will conquer through Christ.