1 John 4:4 You are from God, children, and you have overcome them, because greater is the one in you than the one in the world.
ὑμεῖς ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐστε, τεκνία, καὶ νενικήκατε αὐτούς, ὅτι μείζων ἐστὶν ὁ ἐν ὑμῖν ἢ ὁ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ.
This verse expresses the hope that we should live with as Jesus’ followers. We get our direction and source of life from God. Our identify is found in God as “children.” This orientation ensures that we can overcome any snares, temptations, or lies that the devil, antichrists, and those who associate with them can throw our way. We do not have to go around defeated and discouraged because of the opposition we all experience in this life. Many things seek to discourage us, and not all of these can be attributed to the devil. Some come from our own choices or the choices of others. We should not be ignorant about the devil’s schemes or unprepared to face people who are angry at God, reject God, or distort the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our identity as God’s children connects us to a greater power source than what is found in the world.
For older posts, click here.