Good morning. The thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy; I have come that they may have life, and that they would have it in abundance. John 10:10
These words of Jesus ring with truth and hope. Our true enemy may talk a good line, but in the end, whatever has been promised in accepting his “gifts” will leave us poorer and destroyed. Jesus came to bring us life, but nor just any life, He came to provide us with abundant life.
But what does that mean? Please consider some of what Jesus teaches us:
When we love well, we are well loved, and in that love the heart is blessed.
It is when we give gladly that we receive fully, but when our energy is spent in seeking what we feel we are owed, we are neither blessed nor filled.
When you are hungry for the food of heaven: give hope, cheer, and love. Freely give forgiveness, gladly share encouragement, and tenderly provide blessings. Give to others as God gives to you, and soon you will find yourself filled and satisfied.
Those little things, like smiles and a warm touch, like gentle words filled with hope and peace, like extending a helping hand when none was expected; those things cost little but provide much.
We hold many things in our hands as we live through our days, and we may lose them all in time; but whatever we entrust to the hands of God, those are ours forever.
The songs we sing in worship are more than words and music; they are praise from our hearts lifted high enough to reach the throne of heaven.
When lost souls yield to the will of God and rejoice in His promise of life, we join our songs of joy with the beings of heaven, and together we celebrate with God.
To know Jesus is not the same as believing in Him. To know Him means that we are one with Him in love, in hope, and in purpose.
There is so much more, and it would take pages aplenty to share even a portion of them, but perhaps we might spend some moments to consider and give thanks for the ways our Lord Jesus is abundantly filling our lives today.
Vern