I have come that they might have life; and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10 God has appointed you for abundance as you abide in Him today.
When I feel the weight of the world, burdens of the day and the limits of my abilities, will I believe Jesus’ promise? So many well-meaning believers throughout the years have claimed these verses for their own gain and prosperity that some of us have been left wondering. Life is hard! The reality of loss, pain or opposition often goes right to the heart and leaves us...well...wondering. Why? Because life is hard! Yet, too much wondering will lead to wandering. When you are in those times or seasons, what keeps you going? Do you give up or press on?
No matter what you are facing today, listen to the charge from the writer of Hebrews, let these words sink deep, "But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved" (Hebrews 10:39). Will you believe today the promise that God through His son Jesus Christ has come to give you life, and life to the full?
The enemy’s work is to "steal, kill and destroy" (John 10:10). That’s his aim, and he’s a good adversary. I've heard it said the enemy doesn’t care anything about you, he just wants to destroy the Word in you. You pose no threat to him. The threat is the power of God through the promise and truth written on your life, "hidden in your heart" (Psalm 119:11). Will you believe today? Let us stand together as the Church, united and full of life today!
Let's look a little deeper biblically to the work of the Father. Let's turn back to Hebrews for insight and instruction. Discipline, it's hard and painful. It might feel like "steal, kill and destroy," but what it is really? "God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness" (Hebrews 12:10). "It produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those have been trained by it" (verse 11).
Now, let us look at Pruning. Once again, we see the handiwork of the Father as the good gardener. Yet, it doesn't feel very good. "He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful" (John 15:2). How many of us want more fruit in our life? I’m the first in line. How many of us want to be disciplined and pruned? Well, not so much...is there another way? Not so much! We are being conformed into the image of Christ, justified and walking in a journey of sanctification that will yield the fruit of righteousness, peace and abundance in our life. Let us be wise with regard to God’s discipline and pruning in our lives. Our greatest pain may be our greatest blessing.
Let us be wise and aware of the enemy's tactics to steal, kill and destroy. Let us stand firm under opposition, threat and lies. Let us also hold on to the truth that the Father loves us even when it hurts. There is a pain that will not destroy but ultimately bring life. "I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last" (John 15:16, NIV). In the King James Version it reads, "Fruit that remains." So today, what do you do? "Remain in me, and I will remain in you" (John 15:4).
God has appointed you for abundance as you abide in Him today.
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ" (Philippians 1:9-10).