Abundant Life or Redundant Life?
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. Redundant (def) - Not or no longer needed or useful; superfluous.
The abundant life in Jesus is a life of hope, peace, power, usefulness, and many other things too numerous to mention. So why do we seem to try to downplay this Abundant Life? Maybe you have gone through some tough times and God has not shown Himself in your circumstances so you just decide to not believe in the power of God anymore? SAD! Maybe you have been thinking more from a human standpoint than a spiritual standpoint and the Holy Spirit is left out of your decision making? BAD. Maybe your mind and theology took a "run to the border" and you crossed over to a world that is so passive you no longer even pursue God's power and working in your life? Clad. Maybe you are just lazy and indifferent about the things of God and you have built your own coping mechanism for living your life? NOT GLAD. But remember, the scripture says I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
If you have to explain away the abundant life then you might not have it, and you need a fresh touch from the Holy Spirit to revive your dead life. Whatever it takes, let it happen and get back on board the "abundant life train!" Our life as a believer is not meant to be useless and not needed. We are needed, and God puts this usefulness in each one of us and the Holy Spirit is the fire that is ignited in the action. In a very self-centered world we might think that having an abundant life is meant to make us proud, but in fact it is meant to make us LOUD!! Loud for Jesus and His message. The growth of our spiritual life begins to speak loudly to a lost and dying world and the thief hates it and convinces, through his lies, that we have no value or nothing to offer. So we must remind him that we do have significance and that is found in Jesus. DUH!!!
The Abundant Life is a life of freshness and newness, and we get to experience that every moment of every day when Jesus is in our life, guaranteed. The power of the Holy Spirit then enables us to live in a whole new frame of mind that is "being renewed every day." The prophet Isaiah said it this way. Isaiah 40:31 Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary. Still useful and still growing!! Abundance is overflowing!! Let the Holy Spirit and the Word of God spark the abundant fire in your heart and see what God will do. It will be awesome!!
The Pilgrimage Continues..
David Warren