To the one who conquers in suffering

Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around. (2 Kings 6:7 ESV)

In studying Revelation lately, this 2 Kings verse reverberated with echoes throughout! For John kept “seeing” what we cannot! He saw a scene; then he saw another, and another. God revealed what was “behind the scenes!”

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed (Jn. 20:29 ESV).

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Heb. 11:1 ESV).

Stand up, stand up for Jesus
ye soldiers of the cross;
lift high his royal banner,
it must not suffer loss:
from vict’ry unto vict’ry
his army he shall lead,
’til ev’ry foe is vanquished,
and Christ is Lord indeed.

(“Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus,” Duffield, G., 1858)

Oh Lord, please give us eyes to see You, as we suffer!

Another repeated phrase in Revelation is “to the one who conquers.” 

This week, let’s look to the One who has already conquered sin and our enemy, even though we don’t see Him (yet)! For, in Christ, we are “more than conquerors” in suffering as we continually hope in Jesus in each minute’s, hour’s, day’s, and year’s battles with our trials and temptations!

To the one who conquers while suffering

 Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
the trumpet call obey;
forth to the mighty conflict
in this his glorious day:
ye that are men now serve him
against unnumbered foes;
let courage rise with danger,
and strength to strength oppose.

To the one who conquers, dressed in armor as God sets us apart from the world

Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
stand in his strength alone;
the arm of flesh will fail you,
ye dare not trust your own:
put on the gospel armor,
each piece put on with prayer;
where duty calls, or danger,
be never wanting there.

Let us be self-controlled and put on the armor of faith and love, and a helmet of the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath,

but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him (1 Thess. 5:8-10 CSB).

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever (1 Jn. 2:15-17 ESV).

To the one who conquers, our reward is living with Jesus forever!

Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
the strife will not be long;
this day the noise of battle,
the next the victor’s song:
to him that overcometh
a crown of life shall be;
he with the King of glory
shall reign eternally.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable (1 Cor. 9:24-25 ESV, emphasis added).

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Pet. 1:3-5 ESV, emphasis added).

Take heart! Take courage! All glory to Jesus Christ who has conquered, as we suffer!

Sister in Christ, let’s both come to Jesus and sing of our eternal hope. Let’s both “see” Jesus and pray-sing for His help to “be strong and courageous” by the power of His indwelling Spirit within us. Let’s humbly ask Him to guide and direct us as we abide in His love, finding peace as we trust Jesus and His Word. By His grace, let’s pray to be “one who conquers” in this time of suffering. This week’s professionally curated playlist gift, based on principles of music therapy, offers a time of personal worship to “courage into” us right now. I pray this (or any of the other resources) is His gift to help you and me take heart and courage in this challenging time.