“I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬

The aged apostle John reminds us of how the victory of Christ is to be seen in the lives of those who follow Him.

In 1 John 2:12–14, the apostle John speaks of three groups: children, young men, and fathers. The word children in verse 12 refers to every believer in the family of God whose sins have been forgiven. The fathers are mature in their walk with the Lord—they have experienced His faithfulness and possess an intimate knowledge of Him. But the young men are described as overcomers; they have enjoyed victory over the wicked one.

But the question must be asked: How did they overcome the wicked one?

The answer is: in the same way their Lord and Savior did while He was here—through the Word of God. We are told their secret: “The Word of God abides (is at home) in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.” It was not only that they had been in the Word, but that the Word was in them. As the psalmist said, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11).

The perfect example of using the Word of God to overcome the wicked one is our blessed Savior Himself. In Matthew 4, the Lord Jesus was in the wilderness, and each time the devil sought to tempt Him, He responded by using the Word of God, saying, “It is written.” It is the Word of God that enables you and me to triumph over the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life.

Anchor For Today:
May the Word of God dwell richly In my heart from hour to hour,
So that all may see I triumph Only through His power.
– Kate Wilkinson