I love verse thirty-seven from the eighth chapter of the book of Romans --- "...we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." It resonates victory! Even though I have been encouraged by it, often quoted it, and prayed it over people, I didn't really understand it until recently. After all, how can we be more than conquerors? Isn't a conqueror the supreme victor? Then I read something in a devotion that made it click. It also reminded me that there was more to this verse. "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us ." When I read the verse in its entirety, it began coming back to me. Paul had given a list of tribulations that Christians might go through. He had ended with this verse. It had been a while since I read the verse in context, so I decided to go back and do just that --- not a bad idea! These beautiful words preceded it: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."
Paul wasn't just writing flowery words. He was a living testimony of someone who was more than a conqueror. He had a personal list of trials he had gone through (see 2 Corinthians 11:24-28). He wasn't a conqueror in that he had managed to overcome tribulations --- he had experienced, so-called, defeats --- but in the fact that his relationship with the Lord was stronger than ever. Here is another example: "To keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me, but He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Cor. 12:7-10.
So what does Romans 8:37 really mean? I believe it means just what it says, "...in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." We are greater than those who conquer in their temporary, physical battles. We may have to endure some of these, but we are real conquerors --- victorious for all of eternity, through relationship with Jesus Christ! He encourages us with these words: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, But take heart! I have overcome the world!" John 16:33.
The following poem came from these meditations:
How can we be more than conquerors
When fierce trials assail,
When we feel we've been assaulted
By the very forces of hell?
A conqueror is one who
Defeats his enemy,
Who overcomes the obstacles
Whatever they may be.
So why does God say
I'm a conqueror then some,
When obviously there are battles
I still have not overcome?
Paul was God's instrument
Through whom these words were penned,
A man who had a thorn
With which he had to contend.
But Paul had more than conquered
The thorn that caused him pain,
By putting his faith in Jesus ---
Continuing to trust in His name.
It's true, there's something greater
Than conquering every foe.
It's holding on to Jesus ---
Of all else letting go,
Knowing every irritation
Someday He will put to rest,
Trusting in His sufficient grace ---
That's the ultimate test.
You are more than a conqueror,
Child of God, it's a fact,
When you come to the end of your journey
With your faith in your Savior intact!
Paul wasn't just writing flowery words. He was a living testimony of someone who was more than a conqueror. He had a personal list of trials he had gone through (see 2 Corinthians 11:24-28). He wasn't a conqueror in that he had managed to overcome tribulations --- he had experienced, so-called, defeats --- but in the fact that his relationship with the Lord was stronger than ever. Here is another example: "To keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me, but He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Cor. 12:7-10.
So what does Romans 8:37 really mean? I believe it means just what it says, "...in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." We are greater than those who conquer in their temporary, physical battles. We may have to endure some of these, but we are real conquerors --- victorious for all of eternity, through relationship with Jesus Christ! He encourages us with these words: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, But take heart! I have overcome the world!" John 16:33.
The following poem came from these meditations:
How can we be more than conquerors
When fierce trials assail,
When we feel we've been assaulted
By the very forces of hell?
A conqueror is one who
Defeats his enemy,
Who overcomes the obstacles
Whatever they may be.
So why does God say
I'm a conqueror then some,
When obviously there are battles
I still have not overcome?
Paul was God's instrument
Through whom these words were penned,
A man who had a thorn
With which he had to contend.
But Paul had more than conquered
The thorn that caused him pain,
By putting his faith in Jesus ---
Continuing to trust in His name.
It's true, there's something greater
Than conquering every foe.
It's holding on to Jesus ---
Of all else letting go,
Knowing every irritation
Someday He will put to rest,
Trusting in His sufficient grace ---
That's the ultimate test.
You are more than a conqueror,
Child of God, it's a fact,
When you come to the end of your journey
With your faith in your Savior intact!
