“I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Other translations say, “full life” or “satisfying life.” Whether the words in the verse are abundant, full or satisfying, the meaning is really about achieving the kind of life that Jesus intends for you to have -  a life that reflects what He has created you for.

The average lifetime

In his book, In an average lifetime, Tom Heymann says the average American spends 3 years in business meetings, 13 years watching TV, Spends $89,281 on food, consumes 109,354 pounds of food, Makes 1,811trips to McDonald's, Spends $6,881 in vending machines, Eats 35,138 cookies and 1,483 pounds of candy, Catches 304 colds, Is involved in 6 motor vehicle accidents, is hospitalized 8 times (men) or 12 times (women), and spends 24 years sleeping.

Wow! That is amazing! But, I really don't think his list describes the “abundant life” Jesus was talking about in John 10:10. That kind of life is very fulfilling, satisfying, or simply put, it’s happy.

Many get it wrong

There has been, and continues to be, a mountain of opinion, ideas, and instruction on the subject of achieving one’s potential, personal fulfillment and finding happiness. Humanistic psychologists put forth the idea that “self-actualization (the fulfillment of self through reaching one's potential) is the highest expression of a human's life.” Wrong!

Elevating one’s self won't do it for you

In contrast to the so-called, self-actualization stuff, which teach us to elevate the SELF and to place our own wants and desires in the first place of importance in our lives, we have the following instruction from Jesus Christ:

“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment, And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’” (Matt. 22: 37-40).

In other words

The answer is not about SELF, but it's about others, beginning with God first, and then your neighbor next. You already love yourself, and that's why Jesus says to love others as you love yourself.

Put God first, and He will take care of the rest

 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you." (Matt. 6:33)

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“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13 NKJV)

The Amplified Bible states it this way

 “I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]” (Phil. 4:13 AMP)

 God will faithfully help you do what He has appointed you to do

 “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” (1 Thess. 5:24 NKJV)

 God will strengthen you for the service He has appointed you to do

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, that He considered me faithful and appointed me to service.” (1 Tim. 

1:12)

 God’s power will make you strong in your areas of weakness to do what He has appointed you to do

 “But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me (2 Cor. 12:9)

 “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,” (Eph. 3:16 NIV)

God strengthens you to have great endurance and patience to do what He has appointed you to do

“being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,” (Col. 1:11 NIV)

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“… He is risen, as He said.” (Matt. 28:6 NKJV)

We celebrate Easter on different dates each year! 

The day of Easter falls on a Sunday based on the lunisolar (sun and moon) calendar, not a fixed date on the Gregorian or Julian calendar. Easter date each year has been determined to fall on the Sunday after the full moon following March 21 for Western Christians who use the Gregorian calendar (modern calendar). Thus Easter will fall between March 22nd and April 25th inclusive each year. Whatever the date Easter Falls on while you are reading this, it is a reminder that Easter is the day we celebrate the wonderful fact that Jesus rose from the dead, just exactly as He said He would do! And that changed everything for believers who have put their faith in Him. The sin debt has now been paid in full, and people can now become transformed by His Spirit by receiving Him as their personal Savior! (John 1:12). And, we now serve a savior who is very much alive and who is very much active in our lives today!

He lives (I Serve a Risen Savior)

I think it was said very well in the lyrics of the old hymn “He lives (I Serve a Risen Savior)” that was composed in 1933 by Alfred Henry Ackley(1887-1960). Read his well written words and apply them freshly today in your life!

He lives!

“I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today;
I know that He is living whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him, He’s always near.

Refrain:
He lives, He lives,
Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives,
Salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.

In all the world around me I see His loving care,
And tho’ my heart grows weary I never will despair;
I know that He is leading thro’ all the stormy blast,
The day of His appearing will come at last.

Refrain

Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King!
The hope of all who seek Him, the help of all who find,
None other is so loving, so good and kind.

Refrain

Therefore, rejoice!

“If the Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from death, lives in you, then he who raised Christ from death will also give life to your mortal bodies by the presence of his Spirit in you.” (Rom. 8:11 GNT)

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“And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft.” (Exo. 31:3-5 ESV)

Unique skills and abilities 

The late Radio host, Rush Limbaugh, was often criticized for saying very dramatically on his popular radio show that he was using “Talent on loan from God.” He was absolutely correct! Talent is a gift from God, whether his critics wanted to admit it or not. Talent is something that you are instinctually born with that gives you unique skills and abilities. 

Talent comes from God

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17) 

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Eph. 2:10)

“All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the LORD has commanded.” (Exo. 35:10)

Stir up your gifts and talents

Talent is set apart from knowledge in that it is not a learned behavior, although it can be strengthened and practiced.

“Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you…” (2 Tim. 1:6 NKJV)

 Use your gifts and talents to serve others

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” ( 1 Peter 4:10-11)

 Quote:

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not not have a single bit of talent left but could say, “I used everything you gave me.” - Erma Bombeck (1927-1996) - Syndicated columnist

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“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” (2 Chron. 16:9 NKJV)

Is your heart loyal to God? 

If so, God is looking for you to show Himself strong on your behalf!

What is loyalty? Loyalty is defined as wholehearted fidelity coupled with unswerving devotion and duty. In the Bible, the concept of loyalty is purely relational. This means our whole being is thoroughly committed to someone. It is to be dedicated, devoted, faithful, firm, stalwart, staunch, steadfast, approving, steady, true, unfaltering, unswerving and unwavering to someone. 

God, Himself, is loyal 

“If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.” (2 Tim. 2:13)

Even if a believer fails God will remain loyal. Scripture makes it clear that nothing can snatch our salvation in Christ. The Bible says that God will never leave nor forsake us and He will continue to work in us until the end. 

“Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who maintains covenant loyalty with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations.” (Deut. 7:9 ESV)

What does loyalty look like? It is when you…

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength,” 

Joshua is an example of what it meant to be loyal to God. He said…

“And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Josh. 24:15 ESV)

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“But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matt. 4:4 ESV) 

The fundamentals

The late Vince Lombardi, the celebrated coach of the Green Bay Packers professional football team, faced a difficult challenge one Monday morning on the practice field. A day earlier, the team had suffered a humiliating defeat. In Lombardi’s view, the loss was due to the players’ failure to focus on the basics in carrying out their assignments—things in which they had been drilled over and over again. In his memorable manner, Lombardi met the challenge head-on. Picking up a familiar air-filled, oblong-shaped object, he went directly to the heart of the matter, calling everyone’s attention to the “basics” with five simple words, “Gentlemen, this is a football.”

THIS IS THE BIBLE!

Just as Vince Lambardi did by holding up a foot-ball, we could hold up a Bible and and say, “THIS IS THE BIBLE” and then talk about the importance of biblical foundational basics which will keep us strong. As followers of Jesus Christ, we must never stray from the basic fundamental truths found in the Bible. These truths will keep us strong and help us succeed in that which God has created us for.

• THIS IS THE BIBLE—it’s the Word of God!

  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1 ESV)

• THIS IS THE BIBLE—it will equip you for every good work!

  “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16-17 ESV)

• THIS IS THE BIBLE—it is living and active!
  “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12 ESV)

• THIS IS THE BIBLE—it will light up your path!

  “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm. 119:205 ESV)

• THIS IS THE BIBLE—it will stand forever! 

  “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” (Isa. 40:8 ESV

  “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (Matt. 24:35 ESV)

• THIS IS THE BIBLE—it always succeeds! “So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isa. 55:11 ESV)

 Therefore…

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Col. 3:16 ESV)

“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (Psalms 119:11 ESV)

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22 ESV)

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“For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too.”  (Rom.14:17-18 NLT)

Attitude: A manner of thinking, feeling, or behaving that reflects a state of mind or disposition.

Your attitude 

Your attitude effects everything you do, and ultimately determines the kind of results, either positive or negative that you will achieve. I like what speaker/author/theologian, Chuck Swindoll, had to say about attitude: 

“This May shock you, but I believe the single most significant decision I can make on my day-to-day basis is my choice of attitude. It is more important than my past, my education, my bankroll, my successes or failures, fame or pain, what other people think of me or say about me, my circumstances, or my position. Attitude is that “single string” that keeps me going or cripples my progress. It alone fuels my fire or assaults my hope. When my attitudes are right, there’s no barrier too high, no valley too deep, no dream too extreme, no challenge too great for me.” 

 Develop a Christlike attitude

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.”
(Phil. 2:5-7 NASB)

And…

“When I understand that everything happening to me is to make me more Christlike, it resolves a great deal of anxiety.” - A.W. Tozer

“The good news is that the bad news can be turned into good news when you change your attitude.” – Robert Schuller

“So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.” (Gal. 4:7 NIV)

What does it mean to be an heir with God? 

To be an heir to God means everything that God owns belongs to us as well because we belong to Him. Our eternal inheritance as co-heirs with Christ is the result of the amazing grace of God.

 “And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.” (Gal. 3:29 NASB)

You become an heir to God when you receive Jesus and become born-again

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God -- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.” (John 1:12-13 NIV)

“…that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” (Rom. 10:9-10)

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” (1 Peter 1:3)

 Quote:

“Think of what you are, you Christians. You are God's children; you are joint heirs with Christ. The 'many mansions' are for you; the palms and harps of the glorified are for you. You have a share in all that Christ has and is and shall be.” - Charles Spurgeon

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“He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings utter darkness into the light.” (Job 12:22)

Before I had personally prayed to commit my life to Jesus I had been attending church on Sunday mornings with the family I was living with. I wasn't interested in religious things really, and was only going to church because I felt duty bound to do so because they were committed to it.

A simple prayer changed everything!

Then, one afternoon while driving, I prayed a simple heartfelt prayer and asked Jesus to come into my life and help me. I had been struggling with alcohol and prayed the simple prayer in a fit of desperation. Afterwards, I felt a great sense of relief.

A big difference

The following Sunday I was back in the same church as usual, but something was very different! The pastor seemed to be preaching much better and clearer than before! He was interesting! I could understand what he was talking about! I enjoyed it! Afterwards, I complimented him on his “new and improved” style of preaching. I told him I was glad he changed his preaching style and hoped he continued to preach this way instead of the boring way he usually did. He just looked at me and said, “Mike! I haven't changed! I spoke exactly the same way I always do! So, if it isn't me, something obviously must have changed with you!” I then remembered that I had prayed to invite Jesus into to my life.”

The light had come on with me!

Jesus is “the light of the world” and after I had received him, he brought his light into my life. That's why I was suddenly different. I was a new creation in Jesus! I had come to see the light!

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” (John 8:12 NIV)