Mon., 3/3/14 Devotion (2 Cor. 2:14a)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Corinthians 2:14a, where we read these words:

"Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ . . . "

How is it that God *"always"* leads His church in triumph in Christ? After all, do we not often fail; and are our lives not many times filled with stress, confu-sion, and uncertainty? The answer, of course, is, “yes, they are"; but this in no way negates the inevitable success of the children of God, as we are now in Christ, by faith.

The principle here is that it is our *faith* that is our victory, (even as 1 Jn. 5:4b explicitly states). Since we have Christ, by faith--nothing can conquer us. If our sins are forgiven, and we have a right standing with God, through the im-puted righteousness of Christ (apprehended by faith alone)--then what can defeat us? Nothing.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Beware you do not lose your God in the crowd and hurry of earthly business." --John Flavel, in, "The Mystery of Providence"]