Abundantly part 4
Its all about living life to the fullest. That's why Jesus came--so that we might have life, and that more abundantly. That's why Jesus gave His life for us, and as us--so that we could experience His abundant, everlasting, eternal, Resurrection Life as He lives it in us, and through us, and as us. And He didn't do it--this is the part we need to really grasp--so that He could get anything from us. I quoted this verse not too long ago, but I'll use it again here. "If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof" (Psalm 50:12). God has never, and will never, need anything from us. But what He wants is to give everything and do everything FOR us. He wanted the best FOR us, so He gave the best TO us. He gave us His only begotten Son so that we could know that we ARE His beloved Son in whom He is well pleased. So we could stop living like a slave and start living like a Son. The abundant life that Jesus came for us to have is HIS life. A life of love. Knowing and believing that we ARE loved, so that we CAN love. That's what life is all about. That's what life IS. To live is to love and to love is to live. You can't have one without the other because they are the same thing. Rich people without relationships can have all the stuff in the world and still be miserable. Poor people with love in their lives have everything they need. I say it all the time, there are only two important things--truly important things--in the world: God and people. Love God and love people. Love God by loving people. And we can only do that when we let God love us. That's why the Holy Spirit--the power that works in us that equips and empowers us to do exceeding abundantly above all we could ask or think--is so important. He is the Spirit of Truth that leads and guides us into all truth. The truth that God is love and He loves you. The ultimate truth of the universe that says, "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand" (John 3:35). And the truth that WE are the Son that He loves and has given all things to. We are the kings and priests that are to rule and reign on this earth. Ruling and reigning... through love. Not controlling people, but letting love control us. Doing what we do because its in our hearts to do it. "Love made me do it" should be our answer. But that comes with the remider that love doesn't demand His own way. Love does for others. Look at Philippians 2:4, "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." And here's the most beautiful part: If I look after you, and you look after me, neither one of us has to worry about ourselves. Because we're covered. God, your heavenly Father, has your back. The world is His, and the fulness thereof. And He gave it all to you. Passed down from Father to Son. Our inheritance. The gift of God. Not something that can be earned (thank God), but something that was freely given and must simply be received. And released. You have to share it in order to experience it. Again: That's life. Sharing your life with others. Giving everything you have and everything you are. Laying your life down for your friends. Giving everything you've got. That's how you live life to the fullest. Not by what you get, but by what you give. Love is what makes the abundant life abundant. Love is what is all about!