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"I will not talk with you much longer, because the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me. On the contrary, so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do as the Father commanded me."
(John 14:30-31, CSB)
Over Christmas break, Kyndall (my wife) and I went down good ol' I-35 from Dallas to Austin to visit the family! When we were in Austin, we did the usual family Christmas. Now, there are many old traditions in the Forshee Family Christmas Extravaganza, and there are also new traditions being introduced with the addition of each new little one (shout out to Claire, Riley, and Isabella)!
For the past two years now, Danny and Ashley, my parents, have done this hilariously ridiculous, but oh so incredible game time at the end of presents and stockings. The two dress up as host and hostess. Last year they were Pat Sajak and Vanna White. This year they were Wonder Woman and Thor. I wish I could attach some photos, but I enjoy writing these devos and don't think I would be asked again if I did. :) Anyway, as the host and hostess come up with the games, we play for prizes, and let me tell you, it gets intense.
I am a very competitive person and hate losing, but here's the kicker: I always inevitably lose. You would think knowing that about myself, I wouldn't give into the competitive spirit and wouldn't let myself experience that heartbreak, but I do over and over and over and over again. If you would have told me, "Bryant, what if I could ensure you would win every time for the rest of your life?" I would desperately seek out the solution that you propose and boastfully rub it in my siblings faces that the tides have finally turned. I would act out and walk in victory because of the assurance of your statement that I would "win every time for the rest of my life."
I think we as followers of Jesus forget that because of our relationship with Jesus, we have already won. The war over sin has been won. The war for the eternal destination for our souls has been won. The war for our minds has been won. The war for pretty much anything pertaining to this life has been won by Jesus. Something I had never really noticed before in John 14 (the famous "Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life" chapter) is that towards the end of the chapter when Jesus talks about Satan, Jesus says, "He has no power over me."
Jesus comes onto the turf of the "ruler of the world" and proclaims that Satan has no power. Satan doesn't kill Jesus on the cross, Jesus gives up His life voluntarily. We learned yesterday that Satan tried to tempt Jesus to sin, but Jesus was "tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin." Satan operates thinking the earth is his turf, but even he knows it has been GIVEN to him by God (Luke 4:6). Jesus knew Satan had no power over Him, and He knew He was doing the will of the Father.
As followers of Jesus, as Christians, we must operate under that same mindset. Now we know it is because of NOTHING we have done, but ALL Jesus did. We should operate in the same manner that Jesus did when He was here on earth. He knew Satan was around and coming for Him. He knew, more importantly, that Satan had no power over Him. He knew what His mission was.
What if we operated under that same mindset?
- We know Satan is going to come after us. He hates us, and he wants to destroy us.
- We know Satan has no power over us because of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection.
- We know what our mission is: Matthew 28:19-20.
- We then live out of a confidence that we as followers of Jesus WIN! We don't have to walk in fear. We walk in victory.
Operate today in this truth from John 14: Satan has no power over me. I do as the Father has commanded me.
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