What does it mean to have an abundant life?

Jesus Christ came to earth so that we could have an abundant life, but what does that mean?

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." Jesus- as recorded in John 10:10

Abundant Life

Wow! One of my favorite verses. Jesus came here to have life and to have it abundantly. Have you ever wondered what that verse means?According to James 1:17, God only gives good and perfect gifts, so God only gives gifts and blessings that are compatible with that person's personality and God's goals for that person. (What is God's will? Check out this post for more information!)

Prosperity Message?

Is this verse in support of prosperity gospel? That you should have abundant money, cars, houses, and should not have any illness or problems? CERTAINLY not! The Christian life is one of sacrifice, laying down your life, and admitting your weaknesses to God so that He can fill you up with the Holy Spirit and take over.Listen!  This verse is NOT used correctly when Prosperity "Gospel" preachers cite it. (I hate even using the GOOD word Gospel in such a negative light.)Read the verse in context. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." Who is the thief? Satan. Satan comes to steal and kill and destroy. Jesus is Satan's worst nightmare. He gives us LIFE and gives it to us abundantly!

Satan is a dirty rotten THIEF!

Satan TAKES. He wants to deceive you from accepting Christ... but even after you do, he doesn't give up.Satan wants to take:

• Your freedom- Satan wants to make you fall into sin and KEEP you there. He wants you to feel stuck so that you feel like you can't serve God.
• Your marriage and friendships- Satan wants to alienate you from other meaningful relationships, especially those with other Christians. He wants to take your marriage and alienate you, make you feel alone. He wants to STEAL your intimacy with others.
• Your confidence- Satan wants you to doubt God's word and wants you to live JUST LIKE the World. (Remember that Jesus himself said that Satan is the ruler of this world in John 12:31)
• Your children- The Bible says that "Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth." (Psalm 127:4) Your children are some of the most powerful weapons against Satan's schemes for the world and the Devil DEFINITELY does not want them to grow and prosper in the Lord.

Watch out for false teachers. They mislead people from true simple faith in Jesus Christ but adding unnecessary steps to salvation. Or they take away passages or books of the Bible that they don't feel is actually Scripture. (2 Timothy 3:16 says that ALL Scripture is God-breathed, written for our good.)Paul told the Galatians that “if anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!” (Galatians 1:8–9).

You are protected

Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd in the next verse.

Read the context surrounding this verse. Here is John 10:9-12. Jesus says: "I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it." 

Once Satan ruins your life, he abandons you. Like a "love" affair gone bad.

Jesus doesn't want that for you.

Jesus wants your life and wants to make it one of FULLNESS and LOVE... He wants to give you an abundant life... even through the sacrifices you make in Jesus' name, the life of a Christian is abundantly better than a life lived for yourself, fulfilling desires that are empty and temporary.

Listen for Jesus' voice

God’s sheep are protected from the thief by their Shepherd. Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). The sheep “follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice” (John 10:4–5). It is by knowing truth, knowing God’s voice, that we can recognize the lies of those (Satan and his false teachers) who would seek to steal, kill, and destroy. Abundant life is in Jesus alone... don't fall for Satan's tricks.

What about you?

In what ways has Satan tried to trick you? In what ways has Jesus provided you with an abundant life? Do you think Jesus is referring to life on earth or eternal life? Or both? Let me know!

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