The Abundant Life

Happy Friday Friends!

I hope & trust this post finds you all having a great day!

Before diving into this Happy Friday, I would like to respectfully ask that you pray for those who have been impacted, are continuing to be impacted, by Tropical Depression Imelda. This one hits so close to home...it is impacting many people who mean so much to the Haslam family. We have done life together, weathered storms of nature and of life together and here they are again, in another storm. We love you, we miss you and we are praying for you! 

This week I don't want to share some thought/idea, tell some story or attempt to impart some wisdom. This morning I am seeking to learn, to understand and I simply invite you to grab a cup of coffee or tea, pull up a chair and explore with me.

Earlier this week I read John 10:10 and it hit me in a way that it had not hit me before. It says:
"The thief's purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness."

I am reminded of the question, "What part of the Bible do you believe? The part you actually walk out." Just this morning I read a quote that said, "We may not always live what we say but we always live what we believe." For far to long I have lived a life of condemnation, not conviction and yet, the Bible tells us this is not how we are to live. Like far to many Christians, I have tried to live this life of self-martyrdom instead of a life of abundance. I freely accept that I am lost, broken, a sinner...I guess I know my thoughts and actions too well!!! :) But I have struggled when I am told that God wants to bless me, that He wants me to live life to the fullest. And then we wonder why non-Christians don't want to live the Christian life. When we are beating ourselves down, trying to make crosses to carry when God has already carried it for us, etc. it does not speak to a God of love, mercy & grace. What part of the Bible do I believe?

O.K., so the Bible tells me that the thief - Satan - comes to steal, kill and destroy but Jesus' purpose was to give me an abundant life. But what does that mean? I think this, the meaning, is where we get hung up and what we don't understand.

Some think that the Christian life means that we will not have trouble. We try to use God as some sort of rabbits foot or other good-luck charm. Yet John 16:33 tells us in part, "In this world you will have trouble." Some think that if we are Christian, are nice to people and try to do the right things, all of our weaknesses will be taken away. With this, we try to live these self-righteous lives. But 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." And finally, many believe that if good things happen in their lives they are living "right" and if bad things happen, they must be living "wrong" or have sinned...like they are being punished for what they did or did not do. Matthew 5:45 says in part, "He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."

You feel my pain?!?! :) What does it mean to live abundantly? I don't know for sure though I think I am starting to get it. I have spent the better part of the week trying, and praying, to understand what this really means, what this look like to live life this way. Instead of trying to impart some wisdom I readily admit I do not have, I want to share excerpts I have found from 3 different articles as I searched for what living an abundant life looks like.

The first excerpt comes from an article titled, What Does It Mean to Have Abundant Life? It was written by Brenda Rodgers and was posted on iBelieve.com on February 26, 2018.

"Jesus gives us the fruit of the Spirit, and this is the abundant life. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23).

Jesus wants us to have the best life possible in a world that is sometimes unbearable - a world full of cruelty, injustice, sadness, and pain. He knows that the only way that is possible is for us to take on His character of a life where inwardly we are satisfied because we know who we are through Him, who He is through God the Father, and where we are going - Heaven.

Our lives can be falling apart all around us, and we can still have an abundant life. The abundant life is a state of being from within, not a result of external circumstances. It is the result of the pruning God does to make us more like Him, and it is what we will take to Heaven with us (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). An abundant life is a life that keeps on giving."

The second excerpt comes from an article titled, What did Jesus mean when He promised an abundant life? It can be found at gotquestions.org.

"What is the abundant life? First, abundance is spiritual abundance, not material. In fact, God is not overly concerned with the physical circumstances of our lives. He assures us that we need not worry about what we will eat or wear (Matthew 6:25-32; Philippians 4:19). Physical blessings may or may not be a part of the God-centered life; neither our wealth nor our poverty is a sure indication of our standing with God. Solomon had all the material blessings available to a man yet found it all to be meaningless (Ecclesiastes 5: 10-15). Paul, on the other hand, was content in whatever physical circumstances he found himself (Philippians 4:11-12).

Second, eternal life, the life a Christian is truly concerned with, is not determined by duration but by a relationship with God. This is why, once we are converted and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are said to have eternal life already (1 John 5:11-13), though not, of course, in its fullness. Length of life on earth is not synonymous with abundant life.

Finally, a Christian's life revolves around "growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). This teaches us that the abundant life is a continual process of learning, practicing, and maturing, as well as failing, recovering, adjusting, enduring, and overcoming, because, in our present state, "we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror" (1 Corinthians 13:12). One day we will see God face to face, and we will know Him completely as we will be known completely (1 Corinthians 13:12). We will no longer struggle with sin and doubt. This will be the ultimately fulfilled abundant life."

And finally, I found this excerpt in an article titled, What Does it Mean to Have an Abundant Life? Some Thoughts on Prosperity. It was written by Ed Stetzer on March 18, 2015. You can find it at chritianitytoday.com.

"Abundant life is not about what we have. It's not about what we get. It's not about what we claim. Ultimately, abundant life is about what we receive as a gift from the Lord and to live knowing we are stewards of the blessings of God.

It's not a sin to be rich (though it might be missing the point if we die rich). Furthermore, stewardship is not measured by what we have received, but by what we have given.

At the end of the day, perhaps that is how we know we have the abundant life - when we have shared our life with others. When we have enough of the blessing of God (mercy, peace, love, grace, wisdom, etc.) to share with others, and then actually do it; that's when we truly have abundant life."

Take heart Sweet Friends, at least we aren't the only one's trying to figure out what the abundant life means and is all about!!! :) Look, I simply know that Jesus said He came so we can live life to the fullest. Even if I don't fully understand what that means, I accept this truth and will strive - through continually seeking God, prayer and the leading of the Holy Spirit - to live it every day of my earthly life.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.

Have a great day, a wonderful weekend and please cherish your precious families!

Kev