Theme of the Week: Walking with Jesus
Bible Verse: “He protects his flock like a shepherd; he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them in the fold of his garment. He gently leads those that are nursing” Isaiah 40:11 CSB
Scripture Reading: John 10: 1-18, Psalm 23:1-6
Life. This is what I was searching for as a young man—not just existence, but life. My big question was not, “Is there life after death?” It was “Is there life during life?” That is what we all want: a life that is worth living, a life that matters.
We all want a better life. And in speaking of this, Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).
So what exactly is the full, abundant life Jesus was speaking of?
Let me first say what it isn’t. The abundant life Jesus spoke of is not necessarily a long one. But it certainly is a full one. Nor is this abundant life one that is necessarily free from sorrow or sickness, although following God certainly does spare us many sorrows that we might otherwise have had. No, this abundant life Jesus promises is not a state of constant euphoria.
Perhaps the best way to describe the abundant life is a contented life. This contentment comes from the knowledge that our Good Shepherd is capable of handling every emergency that will come our way.
Our Good Shepherd is always looking out for our best interests, and it is his joy to lead us to green pastures, beside still waters, and through the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23). Our English word abundance comes from two Latin words, which mean “to rise in waves” and “to overflow.” The translation of the first word conveys the image of the constant, crashing of waves on a shore. It is endless.
The translation of the second word suggests the idea of a flood overflowing a river, caused by heavy rains. When we put it all together, here is what we have: The abundant life is one in which we are content in the knowledge that God’s grace is more than sufficient for our needs, that nothing can suppress it, and that God’s favor for us is unending. The abundant life means unending, consistent contentment.
From Walking With Jesus: Daily Inspiration From The Gospel Of John by Greg Laurie. Copyright ©2007 by Greg Laurie. Used by permission of Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, MI. http://bakerpublishinggroup.com
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