John 10:10 - Finding The Abundant Life!
John 10:10 - Finding The Abundant Life!
John 10:10b (NKJV) I have come that they may have life, and that
they may have it more abundantly.
John 10:10b (NIV) I have come that they may have life, and have
it to the full.
John 10:10b (AMP) I came that they may have and enjoy life, and
have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
John 10:10b (MSG) I came so they can have real and eternal life,
more and better life than they ever dreamed of.
CONTEXT
This text is the concluding statement of the Third I AM; Jesus
is The Door or Gate of Salvation.
COMMENTARY
The life Jesus gives is abundantly richer and fuller. It is
eternal, yet it begins immediately. Life in Christ is lived on a higher
plane because of his overflowing forgiveness, love, and guidance...
Abundance of life points to depth of living now and length of
living in eternity. It is not only life as good as it can be, but also
life beyond what we can imagine!...
It is clearly not, however, a life that denies problems and
pain. Rather, it is a life that faces them and makes use of them.
Instead of letting us focus on the ups and downs of life, Jesus takes us
deep into life itself, where there is a calm center even in the
storm. [Life Application SB & Commentary]
Jesus not only wants us to have eternal life with him in heaven
but he also wants us to have an abundant life on earth. Our
salvation is meant to have immediate benefit: true purpose, deep meaning
and fulfilling joy. That doesn't mean a life without difficulty, but
it does mean we can be absolutely secure in God's love and
forgiveness, experiencing lasting significance in his kingdom. [NIV Once A
Day Bible]
Abundant life includes salvation, nourishment, healing (v. 9),
and much more. Life here refers to eternal life, God's life. It
speaks not only of endlessness, but of quality of life. With Christ,
life on earth can reach much higher quality, and then in heaven it
will be complete and perfect. [Nelson SB]
When we try to live our own lives, life is a dull, dispirited
thing. When we walk with Jesus, there comes a new vitality, a
superabundance of life. It is only when we live with Christ that life becomes
really worth living and we begin to live in the real sense of the word.
[Barclay Commentary]
Everything in this natural world is pitted against you, and
unless you have this life Jesus offers you will never have real peace.
[Devotions for a Deeper Life by Chambers]
Who would ever say they really didn't want the very best life
could bring? No matter what the environment we find ourselves in, we
all want the best there is. And this is where the best begins, with
a personal relationship to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. It is
a simple message. We are lost and must be saved, if ever we are to
enjoy the best there is. Best really isn't even a good word, for it
connotes comparison. And what comparison is there between life and
death; between an intimate relationship with the Creator of the
universe and a constant growing knowledge of Him, or a habitual process
of pain, frustration and degradation? None. God's desire is for
all to come to Him in salvation, and His grace provides the way
through Jesus His Son. This salvation cannot be earned. It is available
through the love of God. Do you have this intimate, growing
relationship? Tell others. If you don't have it, it is available now. [In
His Time; Walk With Wisdom]
Jesus warns us to be on guard for thieves who will try to rob
us of what God has for us. Jesus wants us to enjoy abundant life
(John 10:10). Since the time of Adam and Eve, people have had to
choose whom to believe. Satan convinced Adam and Eve that forfeiting
their obedience to God would gain them everything. Instead, their
disobedience robbed them of all they had. For the rest of their lives they
experienced only a fraction of the blessings God had intended. Scripture is
replete with accounts of those who forfeited their inheritance as
children of God in order to gain that which was transitory and empty.
The world seeks to convince you that you will find
fulfillment if you adopt its standard of morality for your marriage, raising
your children, advancing your career, or pursuing pleasure. If you
believe this, you will never experience the blessings God intended for
you. Sin brings death (Ro 6:23). It is tragic to listen to the voices
of the world instead of to the One who created life and who wants
you to experience life to its fullest.
Jesus wants you to live your life with security, knowing that
you are a beloved child of God. If you are not experiencing love,
joy, and peace, you have settled for less than what God intends for
you. If you have been making excuses for why you are not experiencing
an abundant and joyful life, determine today to settle for nothing
less than God's best for your life. Stop following the world's way of
finding satisfaction. Instead, listen to the Savior's voice, and you
will find true fulfillment. [Experiencing God Day by Day by Henry and
Richard Blackaby re John 10:10]
ILLUSTRATION
Truly Abundant Life
I came across this verse in the sixth grade in my King James
Version Bible with the illustration of a very westernized Jesus on the
cover. His beautiful words were printed in red, and I added my own
yellow highlighting for emphasis. Always a happy, funny young girl, it
was easy to access this abundant life as promised. I recognized the
enemy's schemes in high school classmates, but I trusted my youth
minister's words that Jesus planned to use even my quirks to his glory.
Faith is easy when it goes untested.
Fast-forward through easygoing years at Baylor University and
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. I fell in love and got married,
and soon my theories of the abundant life got strained. I watched my
mother-in-law die of cancer, despite heroic, constant prayer from a myriad of
people. Two years later, my beloved father died. We pastored a church
where I saw hate firsthand, directed at me and my husband, of all
people, despite my brownie baking and turning the other cheek. How could
Christians act this way?
It was getting harder and harder to wing it on my sanguine
personality, even with my quiet time. I hit the wall. Still, I sought God's
purpose, and slowly he restored my soul, giving me not what I had prayed
for, but himself. I'd asked for an ocean of abundant life and gained
a mere thimbleful. But, with God, that tiny container held enough.
When I travel the country speaking, I share my experience of faith,
not hitching a ride on a happy train but sowing in tears.
Surrendering, crawling, yet continuing the journey. It has taken decades to
decode John 10:10, yet those few words continue to have an impact on
every moment of my life.
Jinny Henson is a stand-up comedienne who travels the country
encouraging women. She is a pastor's wife and nutty blonde soccer mom. [The
One Year Bible Live Verse Devotional]
CLOSING THOUGHTS
The Bible is the most amazing resource for living! Bible study
is the major way God communicates with us and prayer is the key way
we communicate with God. [The One Year Bible for New Believers]
Bold but true bumper sticker: You've Tried the Rest; Now Try The
Best - TRY JESUS!!!
THE STEPS TO SALVATION LINK:
http://www.abible.com/salvation/
EXCELLENT BIBLE STUDY SERIES LINK:
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
EXCELLENT VIDEO SERIES ON EXPERIENCING GOD:
http://sda.biggytv.com/watch/Revive!_-_Dwight_Nelson:_Experiencing_Gods_Grace/revive/
EXCELLENT BIBLE PROPHECY SERIES BY DR RON CLOUZET:
http://www.propheciesdecoded.com/program
SPECIAL MUSICAL DEVOTIONAL ON CHRISTIAN LIVING:
[Be sure and listen to the first devotional thought about 2-3
minutes into the tape to get an idea of the blessings in this series.]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcotY5K7T0c
