Dr. Jeff Roberts

July 27, 2008

Old Testament -     Genesis 29:15-28

                              Psalm128

New Testament-     Romans 8:26-39 (focal passage)

Gospel-                  Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

More Than Conquerors

     What is your image of a winner?  Is it a NASCAR driver doing donuts in the infield?  Is it the wreath of roses being placed on the fastest thoroughbred at Churchill Downs?  Is it cutting down the nets at the Final Four?  Maybe it is the yellow jersey of the Tour de France.  For some of us a winner looks different.  Maybe your view of a winner is a politician taking an oath of office or a well dressed man or woman in the penthouse office.  Maybe it is the entrepreneur who witnesses their vision come to life. We all love winners!  All of us are drawn to those who are able to win, regardless of the field of competition.  In fact, we are drawn to those who are successful, not only in sports, but in business and their personal life.

      In Romans 8, Paul concludes his remarks, in regards to dealing with trouble, hardship, and God’s activity in our lives, with a resounding conclusion that, through Christ, we are more than conquerors.  In the Greek, “conquerors” is a compound word that means overwhelming victory.  Paul tells us that no matter what we might face, through Jesus we can be victorious.  In Paul’s list of hardships he mentions not only the trouble that life brings to all of us, but also the trouble that others deliberately bring to our lives.  He also mentions destitution and desperation and yet, through it all, we can be conquerors. 

     Paul concludes that because Jesus loves us and nothing can separate us from God’s love, then, nothing can finally defeat us.  Paul writes, “Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Thus, through Jesus, in the end we are all winners.

     When I think about being a winner through Jesus, I want to consider how Jesus’ example leads me to a lifestyle that produces victory.  In Jesus’ life we see many characteristics which lead to Jesus being victorious.  There is preparation, sacrifice, community, and finally, total trust in God the Father.  I want us to consider what it means to be a winner.  What characteristics do we need in our lives to be more than conquerors?

Questions for reflection:

1.  What trouble makes you feel distant from God?

2.  What is the most important characteristic for a winner?

3.  What area of your life do you need to learn to trust God?