Revelation 12:11

NASB	NLT	VOICE
11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.	11 And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.	11 By the blood of the Lamb and the word of their witnesses, they have become victorious over him, For they did not hold on to their lives, even under threat of death.

Understanding the Lamb’s Sacrifice

The victory we have over Satan is through the sacrifice and death of Jesus. The imagery of the Lamb symbolizes deliverance and protection through sacrifice. The blood of the Lamb shows the atoning work of Christ on the cross, which is our redemption and His victory over sin and evil. Our testimony is a proclamation of our faith and how we share it to others. It’s not just said in conversation, but shown through what we do and how we live. Our testimony is key in our fights of life, because it shares the victory of Jesus and our relationship to Him. Jesus calls us to deny ourselves and take up their cross (see Matthew 16:24-25). The early Christians often faced intense persecution, even to the point of death for refusing to renounce their faith. Our willingness to face death instead of compromising our testimony shows our deep belief in Christ and the hope in the resurrection of Christ. 

Looking Eternally at Life

There’s a lot to be said about keeping an eternal perspective on the different parts of life. We, or at least I, don’t do this much because today’s world and our lives in it can feel like it’s constantly changing. However, when we start to look at the events of our lives from a bigger perspective, we start to see that everything has a purpose and a meaning. A relationship had to end before we got engaged. A job had to be terminated before we received our dream promotion. The hardships we face suck in the moment and the moments thereafter, but they lead us to who we are today. We need to make sure we don’t stay stuck in those moments. We can feel what we need to feel for a short period of time, but by faith we have to get back up. We won’t want to feel like it, but we must. We won’t want to move on, but we must. We move forward in the plan that God has for us, even though we just watched our original plan go up in flames. It’s not an easy act, but we can do all things through Christ that strengthens us. We can endure SO much more than what we realize, and honestly – have endured SO much more than we realized. We make it the other side of those hardships. How? Through the victory found in Christ. Through the sacrifice He made so that we are no longer chained to sin and evil. We have the same overcoming, victorious spirit in us that raised Christ from the dead. We lean on that power by faith and continue our journey in this world. We put up the good fight until our physical selves are no more, and we take our place in Heaven with God Himself. 

Above everything, remember this: I am an overcomer by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony.

Reflection Questions

1. Think back to when you were in Sunday School or Youth Group (if you attended). How were you taught about the “blood of the Lamb.” 
2. How has your testimony reflected the eternal perspective of your life?
3. Jesus teaches believers to “take up their cross.” What does that mean to you?

Call to Action

Read John 16:33. Thank God for all the battles that you have faced and for the strength, courage, and faith to walk through them. Ask Him for the peace that surpasses everything. Find ways to incorporate that peace in your daily life. 

Check out the next part in the series: Who Am I Again? #11