Abundant Life
I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. ~ John 10:10b, KJV
When you think of abundance, what images come to your mind? More money than you can imagine? A full refrigerator? A vacation lifestyle? Having more than you need?
The first part of John 10:10 is a contrast to the second part. It reads, "The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy . . ." We're talking about an enemy that wants to take from you, who has murder on his mind, who seeks to tear down and annihilate you. Do you feel the onslaught?
On the other hand, Jesus came that we might have life in abundance. He offers the opposite: His character is to give without receiving in return; to give life to something or someone consigned to death; to build up!
Jesus is a Giver, not a taker. If you feel that life is being sapped out of you, that is, in some form, the work of the enemy, not God. Why then, are we not all living "life in abundance?" May I suggest several possibilities:
1. We live in a fallen, sinful world that pressures us. Sometimes we are harmed by others.
2. We sin, and may be living with the consequences of our choices (spoiler alert: there's grace for you!!)
3. We have yet to "tap into" the strength of Christ and/or experience growth and healing.
Jesus is a truth-teller: if He says He intends for you and me to have abundant life, He means it! Matthew 7:7 says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." At the moment you are ready to reach out to Jesus for His help (in your first step toward abundant life), He is waiting with His hand outstretched toward you.
I'd like to make a distinction here: I'm not on board with a "prosperity gospel" that says that God will fulfill all our material fantasies for a better life on this earth. What I am seeking to convey is that everything we need for our souls--comfort, strength, joy, hope, love--are God's pleasure to provide to us if we are looking to Him for our answers. Amazingly, when our souls are well cared-for, all of life becomes more abundant, and we get to enjoy that with Christ!
Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think . . . unto Him be glory! ~ from Ephesians 3:19-20
Subscribe to free weekly articles in your inbox HERE; your information will never be shared. :-)
©2022 Julianne Knapp. First published 8.30.22
When you think of abundance, what images come to your mind? More money than you can imagine? A full refrigerator? A vacation lifestyle? Having more than you need?
The first part of John 10:10 is a contrast to the second part. It reads, "The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy . . ." We're talking about an enemy that wants to take from you, who has murder on his mind, who seeks to tear down and annihilate you. Do you feel the onslaught?
On the other hand, Jesus came that we might have life in abundance. He offers the opposite: His character is to give without receiving in return; to give life to something or someone consigned to death; to build up!
Jesus is a Giver, not a taker. If you feel that life is being sapped out of you, that is, in some form, the work of the enemy, not God. Why then, are we not all living "life in abundance?" May I suggest several possibilities:
1. We live in a fallen, sinful world that pressures us. Sometimes we are harmed by others.
2. We sin, and may be living with the consequences of our choices (spoiler alert: there's grace for you!!)
3. We have yet to "tap into" the strength of Christ and/or experience growth and healing.
Jesus is a truth-teller: if He says He intends for you and me to have abundant life, He means it! Matthew 7:7 says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." At the moment you are ready to reach out to Jesus for His help (in your first step toward abundant life), He is waiting with His hand outstretched toward you.
I'd like to make a distinction here: I'm not on board with a "prosperity gospel" that says that God will fulfill all our material fantasies for a better life on this earth. What I am seeking to convey is that everything we need for our souls--comfort, strength, joy, hope, love--are God's pleasure to provide to us if we are looking to Him for our answers. Amazingly, when our souls are well cared-for, all of life becomes more abundant, and we get to enjoy that with Christ!
Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think . . . unto Him be glory! ~ from Ephesians 3:19-20
Subscribe to free weekly articles in your inbox HERE; your information will never be shared. :-)
©2022 Julianne Knapp. First published 8.30.22