Victor is defined by the online dictionary as: “A person who defeats an enemy or opponent.”
Victim is defined by the online dictionary as: “A person harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a crime, accident, or other event or action.”
As I considered the meaning of these two words, I realized that only two letters make a major difference in the meaning of the word, and how we view ourselves. Victim is focused on us, with the ending “im” it reminds us of the word “I’m. Victor is focused on Christ, and His work for and in us.
Christ is the only One who can turn our lives around. He can make us a victor – over our sinful selves, and where we may have been a victim at the hands of the sins of another. All praise and honor to Him!
On the cross Jesus defeated the enemy of our souls, the one who made us victims of sin because of the temptation Adam and Eve succumbed to in the garden.
But God changes all that when we accept Jesus’ sacrifice for the payment of our sins.
The realization that we are no longer a victim often takes time to manifest itself in our lives. But God is always at work to make His victory real in our hearts and minds. He has provided us with His indwelling Holy Spirit, when we are His children, who works in our hearts and minds to help us change our thinking from that of being a victim to being a victor.
The following verses provide us with some insights into how God does this work in His true followers:
Psalm 51:10: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” God starts by giving us a clean heart. This is not due to anything we can make happen. It is all because of Jesus, and what He did in paying the penalty for our sins when He willingly went to the cross, and was separated from His Father, after living a perfect life of obedience to His Father while in this world.
John 1:12: “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” We gain the title and position of victor because God deemed it so! It can’t get any better than being God’s child!
God tells us what our part is in this process of living as a victor, and not as a victim:
Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” We need to participate with God as we assume our role as victor. It is a position that He has already provided. It is not anything we can earn, but it is something we cooperate with His Holy Spirit in as he does His work in us.
How do we “renew” our minds? Colossians 3:2 provides guidance for that process: “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” This is certainly not as easy as it sounds. At least for me, I find my thoughts straying to earthly people and situations far more than is beneficial for me. But God helps me to return my thoughts to Him.
In Colossians 3:16 Paul provides further instructions for this renewal process: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” It is not only a private matter, but it is a corporate matter – when we gather with others who have a true relationship with Jesus.
In 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 we are given additional guidance for dealing with the lies the enemy of our soul tosses at us, wanting to keep us in victim mode: “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” We must take every thought and see if it aligns with the Word of God, and if it doesn’t, we must toss them out of our thinking.
While we are daily reading God’s Word, taking time to be in communication with Him, and in vulnerable fellowship with other Christ followers, 2 Corinthians 4:16 tells us what God is doing for us: “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.”
Additionally, God promises to set us free in John 8:32: “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Jeremiah 29:11 provided God’s people, the nation of Israel, with a promise that He would be working for their future benefit. Ultimately, Jesus fulfilled that promise: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
God desires that we rest in Him, and His promises. He is always working to bring us from being victims, being held captive by sin, into His kingdom where we live as victors. All of this is due to His mercy and grace!
All praise and glory to our great God!
Do you still feel as if you are a victim to your own sin or the sin of another? If so, please contact me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com so we can talk.
Living for Jesus, Donna
P.S. If this has helped you, please feel free to share it with others!
Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you.
Copyright 2024 Donna Shappy All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.