oil production, or other necessities of life, shortages often mean eventual financial ruin,
heartache, and in some cases, death. This world is in a critical state, with shortages
becoming more common by the day.
However, for the child of God, we have a divine assurance that our lives can be
abundant in Christ. John 10:10 "The thief cometh not but for to steal, and to kill,
and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it
more abundantly." Jesus Christ came so that we might have an abundant life through
Him! Trying to live the Christian life in our own strength will not give us the abundant
life that God wills for His child.
Look at the first part of the verse again, "The thief cometh not but for to steal, and
to kill, and to destroy:" The thief is referring to Satan. Satan does not want the child
of God to have an abundant life, so he does everything in his power to steal our joy in
the Lord; he cannot steal our salvation, but he wants to kill and destroy our testimony
before the lost. He does not want us in any way to live an abundant life in Christ!
What is the abundant life that the Lord desires for us to enjoy in Him? Its a life that is
abundant in His joy, faithfulness, help & deliverance, direction and provision, to name
just a few.
God's joy: Psalms 16:11 "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is
fullness of joy: at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
God's Faithfulness: Jeremiah 29:11 - 13 "For I know the thoughts that I think
toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an
expected end. Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me,
and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall
search for Me with all your heart."
God's help: Psalms 63:7 & 8 "Because Thou hast been my help, therefore in
the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after Thee: Thy
right hand upholdeth me."
God's direction: Isaiah 58:11 "And the LORD shall guide thee continually,
and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like
a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not."
God's provision: Philippians 4:19 "But my God shall supply all your need
according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
God is holding out to us today the opportunity of experiencing an abundant life in
Him! So many Christians today are beaten down, discouraged and ready to quit
because their strength is failing; look again at the last verse above, God will supply
all our need, whether its strength, encouragement, more faith...whatever our need, it
can be ours by Christ Jesus. We must, as David said in Psalms 63:8, follow hard
after the Lord. Spend time in Bible study and prayer, make the Lord and His will
the number one priority in your life.
Don't let your own foolish pride make you into a spiritually weak Christian. Submit
yourselves to God; you already have Christ in you, through salvation, but now allow
Him to live through you, and start enjoying the abundant life He is waiting to share!
New Life
Gone is the guilt of my sin,
Peace is now reigning within,
Since I believed, pardon received,
Happy, so happy I've been.
New life in Christ! Abundant and free!
What glories shine, what joys are mine,
What wondrous blessings I see!
My past with its sin,
The searching and strife,
Forever gone, there's a bright new dawn,
For in Christ I have found new life!
John W. Peterson
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