Abundant Life

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 

Life can be, and should be more than mere existence. Christ understands this because He, as God, ‘gives to all, life, breath, and all things.’ Because Christ intends for life to be more than mere existence, He came in order that, ‘they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.’ Who are ‘they?’ Christ speaks of them as ‘my sheep. He says, ‘My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.’ He is speaking of those whom He came to redeem. John describes them in Revelation as, ‘a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples and tongues.’ This means that Christ redeems very many and in a very inclusive manner. Hence the Gospel should go forth and Christ set forth to all people everywhere. This is at the heart of the Great Commission and is the purpose of preaching. The end result of that is a personal knowledge of Christ and of God the Father Who sent Him. This is the abundant life. Christ said, ‘and this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.’ Christ is essential to this life. He came to give life and died to guarantee it. Christ is the key to abundant life.  

Our Glorious Living Christ, 
we rejoice that You are the way, the truth and the life. 
We praise You that all that You have done 
has been with the intention 
that we should live abundantly. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning