Disciples of the Great Victor - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

When a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils. He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
Luke 11:22-23

Disciples of the Great Victor
During His forty days of fasting in trying circumstances in the wilderness, our Lord Jesus Christ faced the enemy. He was victorious, applying the Word of the God in whom He trusted, not human expediency, traditions, or cunning (Lk. 4:1-13). Through His faith in God and His Word, Jesus never failed, but overcame the most dangerous, subtle, and mean enemy, who assailed Him in three major attacks, tempting Him in three basic realms.

Our Lord was confronted in the sphere of natural things, in spiritual matters, and in relation to the religious world. Although particularly vulnerable because of forty days of fasting in difficult circumstances of the wilderness, with wild animals, Christ was nevertheless victorious. As a result, He could divide the spoils and send out His disciples to represent Him and so increased the results of His victory. In contrast, the first man Adam, in the most pleasant circumstances, was defeated by the wiles of that same enemy on his very first attempt .

Christians are disciples of the great Victor and identify with Him, caring for His interests. We are vulnerable because we have the flesh in us, which was not the case with the Lord Jesus. Our safety is in being with Him, on His terms, and we follow Him so we can "gather with Him" and be victorious. If not, the enemy will have the victory and scatter God's people. With whom do we keep company? If not with the Lord, then we are with the enemy. That means defeat instead of victory. The Lord desires us to be overcomers!

Alfred E. Bouter