Abundant Life Part 1
Jesus died so we can live.
The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ
opened the door to a new life. When Jesus walked out
of the grave He gave us the opportunity to walk out
with Him. He gave us the option to live an abundant
life.
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I
came that they may have life, and have it abundantly,"
(John 10:10 NASB).
This abundant life is a decision, and it's one that we
have to make for ourselves. We actively choose to live
the God-kind of life. Jesus can't make this decision for
us, neither can our spouse, our friends or even our
pastor. They can deeply desire it for us, but they can't
force it on us.
So, if we sense that we are not experiencing all that
Christ has to give, we should stop and ask ourselves,
"Have I truly decided to live the abundant life? Or am
I holding onto old mindsets, grudges, and habits?"
If we have already accepted Jesus as our savior and
continue to hold onto the past, we have walked back
into the grave.
"For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the
world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ, they are again entangled in them and are
overcome, the last state has become worse for them
than the first," (2 Peter 2:20 NASB).
However, we don't need to read that verse and feel
guilty, condemned or ashamed. We should see it and
realize that we have an amazing opportunity to move
forward. We can make the decision to do exactly what
Jesus did and walk out of the grave permanently;
never looking back at what we left behind. We do this
knowing that the life Jesus created for us is far greater
than anything we've left behind.
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
for good works, which God prepared beforehand so
that we would walk in them," (Ephesians 2:10 NASB).
This is an invitation for us to continually live the
resurrected life in and with Jesus Christ. If you
haven't been living the abundant life, make the
decision today to live it. Let go of what is behind and
move forward.
Visit Pastor Don at OCFC on Sundays or Wednesdays at OCFC