I was thinking about this verse in 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.”
I wondered just how abundantly do I live or divide my attention to the things that matter the most. In this verse, the thief referred to here is the devil, Satan. He wants to kill, steal and destroy your living, your abundant living, your joy. And he is kind of sneaky the way he goes about it. Just when you think you’ve got things under control or going your way, wham, it’s a sucker punch knocking the proverbial wind out of your joy.
Jesus told us in Matthew 24:43, “If you knew what hour the thief was coming you would be prepared,” but then that’s the thing about a thief, when you least expect it, when you’re gone or sound asleep.
I remember years ago teaching a series on victorious living and how so many people loved it. Then, suddenly, they weren’t living in a victorious manner. I was asked several times, “Pastor what happened?” Sometimes it’s life. Life just happens or we get caught up in so many other things that we neglect what’s most important. Hebrews 2:3, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders and with diverse miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? If we don’t nurture our spiritual lives, our walk with the Lord, it is easy to get distracted, and little by little, we begin to drift away. Then one day, we wake up and wonder how we got to where we are.
The second half of this verse in John 10:10, Jesus said, “I am come that you might have life and that you might have it more abundantly.” Jesus came to give us live, redeemed life, eternal life in Heaven with Him. But he didn’t stop there. He also said “abundant life.”
I have never believed Jesus intended for us to live hand to mouth or paycheck to paycheck with nothing left over. I have many times lived just exactly that way, mostly because of my own doing, overextending myself, living beyond my means. That’s not always the case, especially in today’s economy. Everything is so expensive today. I used to work at a Ford dealership in Gresham as a line mechanic, and in 1980, we had a brand new F250 come in for sale priced at just over 10,000. I thought to myself, “That will never sell. No one will ever pay that kind of money for it.” Now, a new pickup will sell for 90,000-105,000 or more and 10,000 isn’t even a good down payment.
Those kinds of prices make me like my old 2003 more and more every day. It may not have all the bells and whistles, but I do have the title. And I can afford to go and do other things without making a monthly car payment. I’m not opposed to new cars and pickups. I’m not opposed to payments. I’m just glad I don’t have one.
Yet, when I have a need, the Lord always seems to provide the way or means for it. Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Psalms 37:25, “I have been young and now am old, yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread.”
I pray these two verses on a very regular basis. I even tell my children and grandchildren about these verses. Notice in Psalm 37:23, it says I have not yet seen the righteous forsaken NOR HIS SEED BEGGING FOR BREAD. I believe it’s the law of reciprocity in action here, Newton’s third law, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. If I live my life for Jesus and stay faithful, I have His blessings on my life. If I am unfaithful to him, well then, I reap what I sow.
Finally, summer is here, and as we have seen, the hot weather is finally here. We have so many amenities here to enjoy here in the great Northwest, and we should enjoy them. BUT let us not neglect our Lord Jesus. Let us remain faithful to our church families as well. As busy as I am in pastoring, I still find time to go and play without neglecting my walk with the Lord and service to the Lord.
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