A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.
Charleston, South Carolina
Howard J. Blichfeldt
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“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).
Yesterday we attended a funeral for our friend Grady Carter, whom we came to know when we served in an interim pastoral role in Spring Grove, Pennsylvania two years ago. Grady was a very colorful fellow and an avid sportsman. Following one of his successful hunting trips he gave us a huge venison pot roast that barely fit in our dutch oven. We still recall how tender the venison was and the flavorful juice that made tasty gravy for our mashed potatoes.
In recent years Grady had studied eternal truths with much more seriousness, particularly as he fought cancer the last few months and the end was growing near. He was a gun collector with an extensive knowledge of firearms. One particular day he was taking inventory of his collection and he quickly rattled off the model #’s and data unique to that particular gun. His pastor was present and commented, “I’m really impressed with your knowledge about guns.” His response was, “I only wish I knew as much about the Scriptures as I do about guns.” I’m sure many of us can identify with Grady’s honesty in admitting that our interest in temporal things often overrides our interest in spiritual truths.
Pastor Higgins solemnly conducted the service and read with great meaning from several pertinent verses of Scripture from Romans 8. I was refreshed once again as I heard these Scriptures read aloud. They gripped my heart and seemed especially appropriate for the occasion.
Let’s examine a timeless truth from God’s Word today. Paul is writing to the Roman believers about life through the Spirit in the earlier part of chapter eight. Then he begins to consider the difficulties and weaknesses that believers experience in this life, but reminds us that God is working out everything for our good. Paul begins to detail the adverse circumstances that a believer will likely endure and then he suddenly comes to a crescendo in his thought. Capsulizing the adverse circumstances in the phrase, “in all these things” he is indicating anything that can go wrong in life.
Wondrously, however, in all these things “we are more than conquerors.” This translates the single Greek word “hupernikomen”, which can only be found here in the entire NT. It literally means we are “hyper-overcomers” or “preeminently victorious”. I found this description so edifying as I studied this text. “Hupernikomen” indicates that we are winning a most glorious victory; the kind of victory that turns a negative into a positive. That which we may have resented now gives us reason to rejoice!
This is accomplished “through Him who loved us.” God’s amazing love is the very foundation of this victory and Paul reveals the depth of His sacrificial love in 8:32, “He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” Paul repeats the phrase “all things” three times in vv. 28-37 for added emphasis. It’s a reminder that there is no hardship we face, presently or in the future, that we can’t conquer, through our loving God who gives us “all things.”
Hide this truth deep in your heart. You may have struggles in this life, but God’s eternal Word declares that the ability to work through them has already been taken care of. If there is a crisis you face this hour, begin to personalize today’s Scripture by declaring aloud, “I am more than a conqueror through Jesus who loves me.” Repeat it often so the troubling circumstances are no longer captivating our minds, but God’s Word is captiving our hearts and minds. The circumstances of your crisis will ultimately surrender to the victory Jesus has for you “in all these things.”
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, spiritual blessings come from You in the midst of Satan’s attacks and because of this essential truth we know that if You are for us, who can be against us! There is no formidable foe that cannot be conquered as the power of Your Holy Spirit enables us to remain faithful and ever growing in our devotion to You. Remind us that as we share in Your sufferings we also share in Your glory. In all areas of trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, and danger we are more than conquerors through You who loves us abundantly. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, nor anything else in all of Your creation will be able to separate us from Your love that has been revealed to us through Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ. We rejoice with our family of believers and we thank You for the paths of abundance You lay out before us as we walk hand in hand with You who helps us in all things. Amen.
Yesterday we visited with Bob and Joan Snyder, who recently celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary. They have an interesting distinction. They were both born on the very same day in the very same hospital! In fact since they don’t know the time of their birth they don’t know who is older.
A challenging puzzle – George Blizzard, a friend of ours recently sent us this word search puzzle. Brooksyne and I have been working at it and still haven’t finished. We thought some of our daily encouragement readers might like to give it a try!
Today’s Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
“Do Not Lose Heart” Audio from this site We love hearing the Scriptures set to song and Brooksyne was singing today’s text. In searching for the specific song we were unable to find it but did find this site. As she recalls it was by David and Dale Garratt on “Scripture in Song” and we did not find the specific song.
“Amazing Love” Audio
“Mighty To Save” Video
Today’s photo of the stairway in Charleston, SC is by Howard J. Blichfeldt and is used with his permission. His website is here. Howard desires to honor the Lord through his photography.
or call our trucker’s crisis prayer line: 877-797-PRAY (877-797-7729)
or call our trucker’s crisis prayer line: 877-797-PRAY (877-797-7729)
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; and the King James Version.
Chaplain Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
495 Kraybill Church Road – Mount Joy, PA 17552
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