"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." Jn 16:33 NKJV
It doesn't matter what translation or version of the bible I read, this verse just doesn't go away. Jesus warned us that in this world we will have trouble, tribulations, trials, sorrows or difficulties. BUT He gave us a promise of comfort - He has OVERCOME!
It is amazing how people who are angry with God, or are atheists, always seem to challenge our faith on this - why is there so much suffering in the world if God is real and loving? And yet, there are thousands of those who have also overcome adversity by their faith in Jesus Christ and with the help of the Holy Spirit. He truly overcome the world and we find everything we need in Him.
Suffering, when I look around, seems to caused by, dare I say it, people. Imagine if everyone took to heart the basic commandment of God - love God and love others. If the world revolved around this, where would a starving child be? Where would a struggling mum because her man walked out on her and the children be? Where would divorce be? Where would abuse be? Where would a drunken, angry man be or a drug induced daughter be? The most obvious answer would be that these scenarios wouldn't exist. If "self" didn't come into the equation and we lived to prefer and better others and look to their welfare before our own, this world would be a drastically different place.
You may be asking, all and well but how did Jesus overcome the world? He does it by changing the human heart. "And I will give you a new heart and I will give you new and right desires and put a new spirit within you. I will take out your stony hearts of sin and give you new hearts of love. And I will put my spirit within you so that you will obey my laws and do whatever I command." Ez 36: 26-27
We too, have the power to overcome temptation and sin because of the Spirit of Christ who lives in us, challenges us to do good. When you are in a situation where you want to explode in anger and frustration, the Holy Spirit can, at that point, challenge you to maintain and overcome with peace. Or when you feel the urge to gossip, rather overcome by blessing them instead. When hurt comes along and you want to hold a grudge and unforgiveness, the Holy Spirit can enable you to forgive and let go.
When natural disasters or evil happens, God speaks to individuals to reach out with compassion and ease the situation by whatever means available. God raises up people to start feeding programs, hospitals, orphanages etc and they give up their time and resources and some even their lives to be a blessing and give aid.
Maybe I'm to simplistic in my understanding, but when I see good happen around me, I know the overcoming power of Jesus Christ is on display.
It doesn't matter what translation or version of the bible I read, this verse just doesn't go away. Jesus warned us that in this world we will have trouble, tribulations, trials, sorrows or difficulties. BUT He gave us a promise of comfort - He has OVERCOME!
It is amazing how people who are angry with God, or are atheists, always seem to challenge our faith on this - why is there so much suffering in the world if God is real and loving? And yet, there are thousands of those who have also overcome adversity by their faith in Jesus Christ and with the help of the Holy Spirit. He truly overcome the world and we find everything we need in Him.
Suffering, when I look around, seems to caused by, dare I say it, people. Imagine if everyone took to heart the basic commandment of God - love God and love others. If the world revolved around this, where would a starving child be? Where would a struggling mum because her man walked out on her and the children be? Where would divorce be? Where would abuse be? Where would a drunken, angry man be or a drug induced daughter be? The most obvious answer would be that these scenarios wouldn't exist. If "self" didn't come into the equation and we lived to prefer and better others and look to their welfare before our own, this world would be a drastically different place.
You may be asking, all and well but how did Jesus overcome the world? He does it by changing the human heart. "And I will give you a new heart and I will give you new and right desires and put a new spirit within you. I will take out your stony hearts of sin and give you new hearts of love. And I will put my spirit within you so that you will obey my laws and do whatever I command." Ez 36: 26-27
We too, have the power to overcome temptation and sin because of the Spirit of Christ who lives in us, challenges us to do good. When you are in a situation where you want to explode in anger and frustration, the Holy Spirit can, at that point, challenge you to maintain and overcome with peace. Or when you feel the urge to gossip, rather overcome by blessing them instead. When hurt comes along and you want to hold a grudge and unforgiveness, the Holy Spirit can enable you to forgive and let go.
When natural disasters or evil happens, God speaks to individuals to reach out with compassion and ease the situation by whatever means available. God raises up people to start feeding programs, hospitals, orphanages etc and they give up their time and resources and some even their lives to be a blessing and give aid.
Maybe I'm to simplistic in my understanding, but when I see good happen around me, I know the overcoming power of Jesus Christ is on display.
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