John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and
destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
The
thief comes to destroy, we know that all too well. Many of us might have even
spent part of our life running with the thief, and helping him out when the
opportunity came up. Then we found the Lord, we found Jesus, invited Him into
our lives, and began to understand just what He means when He says the we can
have life. Oh and what a glorious life it is! We are thankful for that life,
and look forward to it lasting for an eternity. The last word in this sentence
is key though, and it brings to light a point that we often miss. The Lord
gives us life, but it is abundant life. Often we think of life as life. You
have it or you don’t you are saved or you are not. You got your ticket punched,
now it is time to set off on your new life, a little different, a little
better, a little………a little what? A little NOTHING. Christ came so that we
might have life abundantly, not a little, but a lot. The terms used to define
the Greek word used are abundantly above, advantage, exceedingly, beyond
measure, more. Those words don’t make me think of a little better, they invoke
visions of greatness, of going beyond the norm, accomplishing the never can’s,
the can’t be done and the impossible. It brings to mind thoughts of a life
better than the one I have right now…..but wait, I already have Christ, I am a
believer… why would these words that define the type of life Jesus died to give
me, make me think of better than what I already am? Perhaps it is because I
have accepted this new life, but have yet to commit to live it fully? OUCH!
That is something no one wants to hear, or admit to. Look around the church the
next time a preacher makes a statement like that. You will see a lot of
wrinkled noses, and that look….you know the one…the one that clearly says I
KNOW he is NOT talking about me! Yet he is, isn’t he? Very few of us are living
an abundant life. Lewis Timberlake made a great statement this week at a
speaking event. “God does not give us dreams to taunt us” Mr. Timberlake is
100% correct, and by the way is a man I believe is living an abundant life…..a
coincidence? I think not! Our dreams show us what we can achieve, if, we live
abundantly.
Unfortunately
, to live abundantly, you will have to take risks, and that is enough to stop
many people in their tracks. But let me ask you this. Would you own a Porsche
and never put your foot down? Would you own a racing boat and never throw a
wake? Would you own an airplane and never fly it? We all know the answer, you
are going to use every bit of power and freedom that they have to offer. But
wait, there are risks, it could be dangerous….what is that you say? That is
part of the appeal? Well then, why would the risks associated with using every
bit of power and freedom that has been given to you by the Lord be any less
appealing? It you want to fully live, you have to live like you are dying,
because guess what? You are. You have to take that risk, step out in faith, and
go after that dream, because that dream is not a dream. It is a reality waiting
for you to show up. You were alone, but now you are not, and the One at your
side said I did not die so that you can just get by. I did not give my
life so yours could just be mediocre. No my friends, we have an abundant life
waiting on us. You think not you, but I assure you it is you. You think you
can’t but Christ just told you that you can. You have to try, you have to get
out of the comfort zone, you have to take a chance. Go live your life
abundantly, you thought it was great living with Christ in your heart, wait
until you start to live the abundant life He will live through you!
Brian Thetford
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About Brian Thetford
I am merely what God has created, a person who is here to help with his plan, a cog in the wheel of life. That is where I find my worth, not in what I do for a living, or what I have accomplished in life, but what I have done that extends the Lord’s plan and expands his will, that being said, this is a little about me.I am a husband to a wonderful wife for the last 17 years. I have two outstanding daughters who help keep my heart soft, and young. For a living I am the Logistics Director for a foodservice company. For my love, I write about and minister on behalf of the Lord. It is here that I find my peace, purpose, and balance. I spend a lot of my free time, writing, reading, studying, or talking about the Lord and his teachings. I am working on starting a church in Leander, TX and if the Lord is willing it will be the beginning of a great journey. The rest of the free time goes to my family. As a result, I do not know what the score was for the latest game, no matter the sport, and I really do not care what Brittany Spears did yesterday. Some call me boring. I like to think of it as focused on what is important, my God, and my family.I believe that the Lord has intertwined all of the above into the perfect life for me, a balance of reality, fun, sorrow, and spiritual awakening. I find that for me, the journey is not about going up the road and trying to find the end; it is more about heading back down and helping others get past the same obstacles that I had to get around. I spent the first thirty years of my life on the run, usually in the wrong direction; I will spend the balance on my journey home, picking up as many as I can that are as lost as I was, doubling back when I hear a cry for help.
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