April 2009 Meditation: Life Abundantly
LIFE ABUNDANTLY, what is it? In John 10:10 Jesus tells us that He came so we would have life more abundantly.
NLT - The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.
GOD’S
WORD - A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came so that my
sheep will have life and so that they will have everything they need.
Jesus
gave up His life in heaven, so we could experience, real, true life. He
provided a way for us to live life in all its fullness, but what does
that mean? As we look at Jesus’ life, we certainly don’t see a
glamorous life. As a child, it appears that He lived an ordinary life.
He went to Temple, celebrated the feasts, obeyed His parents…. As an
adult, He was celebrated and hated. It does not appear that He owned a
home and He was not married, nor did He have any children. SO…what made
it an abundant life?
Let’s allow God’s Word to declare what that means…..
PURSUING GOD’S WORD AND ACTING ON IT GIVES US LIFE.
Psa. 119:50, 93
This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life.
I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have given me life.
Prov. 4:20-23
My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.
Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart;
For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.
Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
Jesus
knew God’s Word. His actions proved He believed. It gave Him life. He
was obedient to God’s commands. If Jesus had not given Himself over to
the Word of God, there would not be a Savior and everyone, including
Him, would be going to hell.
THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS A FOUNTAIN OF LIFE.
Prov. 14:27
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death.
Prov. 19:23
The fear of the LORD leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.
Jesus
feared the Lord, His Father. This does not mean He was afraid of His
Father. It means He reverenced and respected His Father. He trusted His
Father. He believed what His Father said. As we trust God, it leads to
life. We show our reverence and respect for the Lord as we trust Him.
Think
about it, when we do not trust Him, we are tormented. Fear controls us.
It leads us to death. There is a gnawing on the inside of us to turn to
Him. When we put our trust in the Lord, there is peace, even in the
midst of a storm. We are free to live in Him. Our life is not our own,
but it is richer than we could imagine. The only way to have access to
this life is through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
WHEN WE BELIEVE IN JESUS, THE SON OF GOD, WE HAVE LIFE.
John 3:16
For
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:36
He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
John 5:24
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
Romans
10:9-10 tells us to confess Jesus as Lord with our mouth and believe in
our heart God raised Him from the dead for us. If you have never done
this before, I encourage you to do so right now. His life will flow
through you and as you follow His way and trust Him. You’ll experience
life more abundantly.
Happy Resurrection Day!
God loved me so much
He gave His only Son and
because I believe in Him
I have everlasting life.
(John 3:16)