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 

Christ came to give, preserve, and promote life. His behavior in word and deed was active testimony to that. All that He said and did, demonstrated His utmost dedication to life, even to the point of snatching life out of the jaws of death. He raised the son of the widow, Jairus’ daughter, and Lazarus from the dead. The words He spoke were the words of life. When it came to the final moments, His personal self-sacrifice was what would guarantee life for all who would believe in Him. The message He communicated was, ‘I have come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.’ He contrasted His purpose to those who came ‘to steal, to kill, and to destroy.’ To follow Christ is to believe what He said and to do as He did. The contemplation of Christ leads to the imitation of Christ. Love engenders love, and hatred engenders hatred. Without love, and the active demonstration of it, life becomes hollow, hopeless and horrible. Christ has never varied from His purpose to bring life. His message is still the same. His actions are still the pattern. His purpose has not changed. 

Our Gracious and Loving Savior, 
we rejoice that You are the Lord of Life. 
We praise You that You have done all that is necessary 
to bring life, to a great multitude 
which no man can number.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning