Stan and I were again at the Twelve Baskets Cafe for breakfast and conversation about out faith. As we waited for Ricky to bring our breakfast, Stan asked, “Do you remember what Jesus said about what He came to give us?”
“I think so,” I replied. “Didn’t He say something about coming so we could have life?”
“That’s basically it,” Stan agreed. “And, as He said that, He contrasted Himself with a thief.”
“A thief?”
“Yeah,” Stan replied. “Jesus said that a thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy, but that He came that we might have life and might have it abundantly.”
Continuing, he added, “I was talking with a neighbor the other day and he told me that after spending too much of his life pursuing abundance, he realized he was pursuing what the thief came to give, rather than what Jesus wanted him to have.”
“How so?”
“As he told me,” Stan replied, “the pursuit of a life of abundance was a killer. He worked too hard to gain a lot of stuff that was really meaningless. Even though he had a lot of abundance, he didn’t have what God knew he needed, which was the life Jesus came to give.”
“Abundant life?”
“That’s it,” Stan said. “And it’s the same for all of us. We’re to seek the life Jesus came to give, which is an abundant life, not a life of abundance!”
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Bible verses to consider:
The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly. John 10:10.
For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? Luke 9:25.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to abundant life with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity I don’t pursue the abundant life Jesus came to give. Please forgive that foolish way of living the new life you’ve provided. Help me follow every step of your lead into the full abundant life you intend. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you accepted the new life Jesus came to give? If no, why do you choose to remain separated from God both now and forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with pursuing the abundant life Jesus came to give? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?
The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know you need not only to have the life Jesus came to give, but to have it abundantly? Spend time studying God’s word, praying, reflecting, and journaling to see what God knows you need. He will show you!
Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?