The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:10 NLT
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10 NKJV
In our world it is very easy to feel like we aren’t enough, we don’t have enough, we can’t do enough. Culture constantly bombards us with input about what we should achieve, what we should own. It tells us who we should become, how we should perform, and how we should look. We find ourselves measuring our worth by external and superficial standards – how successful we are in our careers, what social status we possess, and what material possessions we acquire. This typically leads us to feelings of scarcity – there‘s just not enough to go around, and we certainly don’t have enough. When we are convinced of scarcity, we are plagued by discontent, envy, and inferiority. Our good feelings are stolen, our dreams are killed, and our blessed future is destroyed.
But Jesus comes with a distinctive purpose. He comes to take away the scarcity, the sense of never enough, and replace it with abundance. Abundance is not a word we typically use, but it is a great word. Abundance is not simply enough; it is overflowing. The abundance Jesus brings is the deep sense of fulfillment, peace, and contentment that results from aligning yourself with His will and His ways. It is rich in love, connection, and inner joy. The abundance Jesus brings allows you to be certain that you have everything you need. Your core characteristics are gratitude, generosity, and trust. Before we walk in the abundant life Jesus makes available, we live with the fear of scarcity. We feel compelled to try to control our circumstances so we can have enough. That way of life is deadly to the spirit and soul.
Abundance is not just a side benefit. Jesus said living abundantly, living with the confidence that life will never be too much for us to handle, knowing we will always have enough and be enough, is the reason He came. He didn’t simply come for us to go to heaven. That’s the side benefit, not the main reason. He came for us to be so deeply and intimately connected with Him that our lives lack nothing of true significance. We know that He will provide everything we need as we trust Him.
If you feel life is boring, dead, routine, and you are living a drab life, this is not what Jesus wants you to experience. Tune out the voices of shame, fear, and comparison that tell you that you are not enough, and actively seek out what Jesus says about you. You have a BIG purpose and an abundant life waiting to be lived.
- Thank Jesus for His good plan for your abundant life and ask for His help to live it.