“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

 Abundance:

 

            Came to give us an abundant life:

 

John 10:10

10     “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

     

            This verse tells us who the one that does us evil is. It is not God! He is not a thief. He wants us to have an abundant life … not a just-barely-get-along life. That is why Jesus came. It wasn’t just to bring us into eternal life and then desert us to take care of ourselves. He came to give us a spilling over abundant life. Some people think God puts sickness on them to teach them something. While you can learn something during an illness and can learn to trust Him more, He didn’t put it on you. If you are willing and obedient, He said you would eat the good of the land. Perhaps you haven’t been willing or obedient. Then repent, ask His forgiveness, and get on with His abundant life. He teaches us by His Spirit through His Word. He doesn’t need to use sickness or calamity to teach us if we’re willing to follow His guidelines.

 

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "My Son did not come just so you could barely get along. He came that you might have an abundant, victorious life. He came to bless you so that you could accomplish many things for Me. The enemy wants you defeated and to feel worthless. He knows that if you do, you won’t be able to accomplish much for My Kingdom. Also, people will not want to belong to My Kingdom if they see there is little or no benefit from belonging. You are to lead the way to My life by example. When people see how well I have blessed you, they will want to become a part of My Kingdom. Anything that brings you down or makes you feel unwanted or unloved is not from Me. I have loved you with an everlasting love. Love does not desire harm to come to its loved ones. It desires only good. That is what I want for you.”

 

            70. Jesus didn’t come so that I could live on barely-get-along-street. He came that I might have an abundant life. This is an overflowing, never-ending, able to give to others kind of life. This is the kind of life I will experience.