The NIV 365 Day Devotional

Switching Kingdoms

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

What happened in the spiritual realm when we accepted Jesus’ death on the cross for our own lives?

Read.

When we accept, by faith, Jesus’ sacrifice for our lives, our sins aren’t just paid for, they’re forgiven (see Ephesians 1:7) and God gives us Jesus’ righteousness (see 1 Corinthians 1:30).

And as if that weren’t enough, Jesus also took away the power of one of Satan’s biggest weapons against us: death. “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Think.

Before Jesus came to the world, Satan had a claim on our lives. But when Jesus died on the cross and rose again, four things happened that affect the lives of believers:

1. He neutralized the enemy’s accusations against us. God has declared us forgiven, so Satan’s accusations are pointless.
2. He revoked the enemy’s claims on us. Our sin is paid for, so Satan has no more right to intrude in our lives.
3. He completely destroyed the power of death. The “worst” that can happen to us now is going to heaven and being with Jesus forever.
4. He caused us to switch kingdoms. Though we were born trapped under Satan’s power, “[God] has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves” (Colossians 1:13).

So because of Jesus’ death on the cross, Satan has no claim on us, he has no authority over us, and we’re no longer members of his kingdom. Jesus’ death and resurrection changed everything.

Live.

You’ll need to trust in these truths when you find yourself in a spiritual conflict—when your faith is challenged, when you’re plagued with insecurities, when you face any number of other kinds of opposition. The kingdom of darkness doesn’t like losing its citizens, so for the rest of your life, you’ll experience various attacks from the enemy. But it’s too late. You’re already in the kingdom of light. And that can’t be changed!

What does it mean for you to live as a citizen of the kingdom of light rather than a citizen of the kingdom of darkness?

Taken from Read. Think. Live.