WE NOW TURN to the very peak of triumphancy in the “in Christ” passages: “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumph, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere” (2 Cor. 2:14). This passage implies that God always leads us in triumph provided we stay in Christ. This raises questions: Aren’t Christians often defeated? Do they not often go down in disaster? The answer is no, not if they stay in Christ, for staying in Christ is the victory. When you stay in Him you manifest a spirit which cannot be defeated, for the manifestation of that spirit is the victory.
Jesus went down in defeat at the cross, but at the very moment of defeat he manifested a spirit which was the victory: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). That spirit was the victory amid defeat. So if you manifest His spirit amid your defeat, you are led in triumph—for that spirit is the victory, the victory that overcomes the world! When a Roman persecutor said to a Christian who was in the tyrant’s grip, “What can your Master do for you now?” the man replied, “He can help me to forgive you.” That forgiveness was the victory!
I am in a section of the country in India where Hindus burned the ripened fields of a Christian. When the Christian ran to save his fields, they cut off both his hands. The YMCA secretary, incensed at this outrage, took up a collection to pay the cost of a court case against the perpetrators of this crime. They were known. When the bag of money was placed before their victim he replied, “You have been my teacher. You have taught me the Christian gospel and that gospel says I should love my enemies and forgive them. I can’t take the money. I will forgive them.” That spirit was the victory—a greater victory than if he had won the court case and sent those men to jail. You’re always in triumph when you are in Christ.
Jesus, my Lord, if I remain in Thee, and Thy Spirit remains in me, then I cannot fail though everything tumbles to pieces around me. My spirit is intact when it is in touch with Thee! Evermore give me Thy Spirit. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: “Always leads us in triumph”—today shall be an illustration of that verse.
