ABUNDANT LIFE

ABUNDANT LIFE!

John 10:10

10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Eph 3:20-21

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

The English language is sometimes incapable of describing the bounty of God. The word abundantly which is used in these two verses has so very many shades of meaning. In one case it means “violently” like the rushing of water in a waterfall. Generally we understand the word to mean “much more than enough!”

More than enough – IN QUANTITY!

As it relates to LIFE, Jesus brings more than enough. We not only have existence, which might be described by sitting in an empty room, but we have abundant life, which might be described as being like a child bouncing off the walls in play! Life is colorful and eventful. It is abundant. It overflows.

As it relates to STUFF, God is able to provide much more than we personally need. Can you see the bare basics in this following verse? “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content” (1 Tim 6:8). Most of us have much more than the basics of food and clothing. Some of us rent storage containers to hold the stuff we have long ago forgotten we own. We have stuff in abundance.

More than enough – IN QUALITY!

God does not give his children junk! That which He gives is superior in quality to anything the world or the Devil might have to offer. When Jesus turned common water into wine at the wedding feast the common water became uncommon wine. Here is what the wedding guests said about it.

John 2:10

10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.

God gives us the good stuff. This is what the prodigal realized as his reasoning returned to him in the pig pen.

Luke 15:17-20

17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

He had life while he was away from the Father; in fact he thought he was “living it up.” But the one who had lived like a prince in the world longed to return to become a servant in his father’s house. Why? Because in the world there was scant supply and want while in the father’s house there was abundant life!

Dear Father! Two things I pray for today. I pray that I may understand how very much I have. Next, I want to be a channel of blessing for others. AMEN