🕯Advent — Week Number 1

 

Overcome! (Who ME?!)

The Greek word for ‘overcome’ is the word ‘κατέλαβεν’ — katelaben. In English, it is harder to translate into a word that describes its full meaning.

On the one hand, it can mean that darkness cannot overcome, engulf or extinguish the light of the world.

On the other hand, it can also refer to the darkness being unable to understand or comprehend it.

In John 1:4-5 it says:

“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it,” (NIV).

One word which some scholars have suggested could incorporate both senses of the meaning is the word ‘master’.

So it could read,

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not mastered it….”

In other words, it can refer to ‘overcome’ in a way by saying that the darkness has not been able to become a master over the light and beat it into submission.

On the other hand, the darkness is not able to ‘comprehend’ — like a pupil being unable to master a subject.

We can absolutely take hope from both meanings of the word!

In the same way that the darkness could not quench Jesus, the Word of God, we have the assurance that, with the light of the world living in us, the darkness cannot overcome us either
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We know also that the darkness could not understand the light.

1 Corinthians 1:18 says,

” For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

Verse 25 also says that,

“For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”

Our strength lies in the foolishness of The Cross and the revolutionary nature of God coming to earth in humility as a baby.

While the darkness cannot comprehend the light, we don’t have to lean on our own understanding.

Instead, we trust in the Lord with all our hearts, and we have the assurance that He will direct and make straight our paths.

We can and will OVERCOME any darkness or “dark day” by entering into The Light of The Kingdom that we have been adopted into, through Worship, Rest, and Adoration.

Take a few minutes now to enjoy this most beautiful GIFT from the KING OF HEAVEN!!

 

In His Shadow,
~ Mary Lindow ^©

Duplication and sharing of this writing is welcomed as long as complete message and website information for Mary Lindow is included. Thank You!

” THE MESSENGER ” ~ Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
Global Prayer Rooms

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Mary Lindow has a passion for encouraging others – all generations, careers or vocations to live expressing excellence through personal integrity, healthy accountability, and wise management of talents and skills. She’s a sought after keynote, inspirational, humorous speaker and teacher across the USA and internationally in Ministers & Spiritual leaders Conferences, and training seminars for various organizations.

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