John 10:10 “The Thief cometh not, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; I am come that they may have life and that they might have it more abundantly.”

This abundant life Jesus is talking about is not what the world would call abundant. The world wants riches, fame and has a more, more, more mentality. Our world is self-centered in its desire to “have it all,” “live your best life now.”

What constitutes an abundant life to you? Take a minute to think about it. Do you want a better home, car, more money in the bank, to travel, more time for fun, toys? Those things might make you more comfortable and fulfill some of the desires in your heart, but will they draw you closer to the Lord?

Our abundant life starts the moment we come to Jesus. The Holy Spirit comes in and starts cleaning out all the junk we were born with and have accumulated over our lifetimes. There is no room for pride in this abundant life Jesus offers to us, He is the one who has called, filled us, and leads us. He is the One who will get us all the way home to heaven. We cannot save ourselves or keep ourselves saved. He does!

This abundant life is filled with love, joy, and peace as we surrender our will, our desires to come in line with His will. This world will dry you up, use you and abuse you. It will rob your peace and confuse your mind. But God’s abundant life leads you down paths full of more of him, more contentment. He tells us in his word that He can do abundantly more than we ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20)

We take the uncertainties of life and place them at the feet of the One who can change them or change us, whichever He sees is best for us. When we begin our relationship with Christ, He comes in and starts cleaning us up, reshaping our thoughts and desires to come into alignment with His will.

As we let the cares of this world lose their grip on us we learn to walk in His peace, His joy. God already knows what we need and He can supply all our needs. (Mattew 6:8) The world will try and convince you of the things it says you need and will rob you of rest and peace of mind chasing after it all.
Enough never is enough.

There is a vast difference in need and want. And sometimes even those wants come to us because God said yes, but the yes is because somehow our want was His want, which happens when we read his word and pray, and when we seek him first. Our desires start lining up with His will.

Years ago when I had far less money than I do now, God supplied me with a car. I had asked him to help me, and that if He thought I needed a car as badly as I did, then it needed to be very cheap and dependable. I got it for a dollar…which I did not have to pay, but did anyway. God moved in someone’s heart to give me the car. Remembering it still makes me cry because God supplied a huge need, and He was right on time, and He moved in someone’s heart to do this grand thing for me. This man prayed and sought the Lord on what to do, and heard him, then acted on what he knew the Lord wanted him to do. I can tell you I felt like God had picked me up and given me the biggest hug and kiss of my life!

God did not have to do that, but the need was great and I went to him in prayer seeking His answer. It came in such a way that it could only be God who caused it. He cares about you, me! He sees every need and He will meet them. He doesn’t always do it in a way that seems like He should, it will always come in a way that He gets all the glory, and He alone is deserving of all the glory. This is just one example of the abundant life that He has given in my life. There have been far too many to name them all.

There is more to this abundant life and we are not experiencing it yet. 1 Corinthians 2:9 tells us that no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor mind conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” People, we cannot with our finite minds begin to conceive a glimpse of what is coming when we are either taken in death or caught away one day. Heaven is more than whatever you are imagining. Jesus has been preparing it since he ascended into glory. Think about that…for over 2,000 years.

God is with us, no matter what comes our way, we can rest assured that it has been filtered through his loving hands. We can be sure it was not an accident. We can also be sure we are never alone in it, whether good or bad, God is with us, surrounding us, leading us, and helping us. More of the abundant life.

Here is the center, the all in all of abundant life, it is not stuff or things we need, it is Jesus, He is our abundant life. He should be the reason for everything we do, He should be who we seek above all else. Jesus makes us content in this life. He can give us that peace that stays with us even on our worst day. Sometimes He gives much to people, and at other times he withholds, but whatever He does or gives comes from the depths of His wisdom and is right and perfect for us.

I am living an abundant life, not because I have great wealth, ( I don’t), not because every detail of my life is going smoothly and without problems. ( It isn’t) I have abundant life because I am secure in Jesus. I am His. He knows me, He gives me peace in the hard times, comfort when I need it. He supplies my needs and is always right on time. He keeps me through every day. And I already know that one day I will be with him in glory, oh what a day it will be! On that day I will get to see with my own eyes the fulfillment of this abundant life He gives. For ALL ETERNITY!!! It will never end! I will never need anything, I will never cry again. I will never …. fill in the blanks for yourself.

Get your eyes off of stuff. Turn off the TV if need be. Stop comparing what you have to someone else. Seek the Lord first and He will supply your every need, and sometimes even those wants! He is faithful to complete what He has started in you. And one day, you too will see the fulfillment of the abundant life He has been preparing, and you will be able to look back at the abundance He is supplying even now.

Read and pray my friends, and when you finish, pray and read. Good words my pastor remind us to do. There is abundant life to be found in the scriptures…start reading more about this Abundant Life!