abundant [uh–buhn-duh nt]

Exploring the beachside at sunset, declaring “I do” to the one you love, laughing until your voice gives out – these are times when we truly feel alive. Everything in us bursts with life, and our hearts reverberate with joy.

Those moments are abundant life.

And, in the same breath, they’re not. Not entirely.

When I hear that Jesus came to give me abundant life, I imagine perpetual bliss. Perhaps you do, as well. While bliss is in the picture, it’s not the whole picture. The beautiful, sacred memories we treasure are a slice of abundant life. However, we can also experience abundant life in the midst of stress, pain, and frustration.

The truth is that abundant life isn’t defined by how good or bad life is going. Instead, it’s defined by my heart condition. How tender and open is my heart to God during the ups and downs of life?

The Easter story is the perfect illustration of this. While Jesus was preparing to be arrested and die on the cross, he pleaded with God: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). According to the Blue Letter Bible, the word “cup” is a metaphor for “One’s lot or experience, whether joyous or adverse … likened to a cup which God presents one to drink: so of prosperity and adversity.”

Abundant life is about drinking deeply of whatever cup God gives us. It’s about feeling to the fullest, all the while trusting that God will redeem our pain and enhance our joys.

Jesus didn’t turn on autopilot and cruise through life. Whether he was struggling with temptation or celebrating with his disciples, he invited God into every aspect of his day. His life was the very essence of “abundant” – rich, overflowing, and plentiful. Best yet, the abundance of His life spilled over into ours – bringing redemption, love, and grace into our dusty and dry souls.

Perhaps that’s the best part of living life abundantly – the overflow always spills into the lives of those near us.

Whether we’re having a mountaintop or a valley experience, let’s invite God in. I pray that Psalm 66:12b will be true of our lives: “We went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.”

points to ponder

How engaged are you in life currently?

What cup is God asking you to drink today?

What’s one way you can invite God into your joys or trials?

prayer

Jesus, thank you for your example of how to live abundantly. Help me to live constantly surrendered to you. When life is difficult and painful, let my trust in you endure. Redeem the hardship for your Kingdom. When life is beautiful, celebrate with me. Let me feel your love poignantly.

I pray you’ll fill my surrendered life with abundance. And I pray that the abundance will spill over into other’s lives and bless them.

Amen.

Thanks to our guest writer, Amber Miller, for writing today’s post! Amber is Jane’s daughter and Mary’s niece. Here’s how she describes herself: Board game fanatic, coffee enthusiast, and proponent of loud laughing. I Live in St. Louis with my incredible husband, trying to further God’s Kingdom one small step at a time. You can read Amber’s blog at LiveandLaughLoud.com.

bread [bred]

word [wurd]

noun

1. news; tidings; information

2. an authoritative utterance, or command

3. Also called the Word, the Word of God.

1. the Scriptures; the Bible.
2. the Logos.
3. the message of the gospel of Christ

The word of life is the key to living a life of purpose and fulfillment. What will bring great joy to your life this Easter season? Holding fast the word of life. There is no everlasting joy apart from God and His holy word.

In the original Greek, holding fast means the following: to have, to apply, to stop, to present. Let’s apply each of these definitions of holding fast to our spiritual life.

To have: One definition of to have is to hold in the hand, as in the sense of wearing. How can you wear the word of life? By putting on the armor of God; the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation etc. Don’t forget your robe of righteousness. To have also refers to possession of the mind. We will experience great joy as we use God’s word of life to control our thoughts, and fight our battles against sin, Satan, and our own flesh.

To apply: God’s word is an authoritative utterance that I must apply to my life. Just as it is not enough to simply believe in God (even the demons do, and tremble), it is not enough to simply read the word of life —  I must obey and apply it to my life, and heart. I do this through prayer, meditation, and memorization. Like ointment to a wound, I must liberally slather the word of life on the broken places of my soul. May His word become my words.

To stop: The word of life enables me to stop … stop whining, stop sinning, stop worrying, stop complaining. By speaking the word of life, I can stop speaking death into my relationships, dreams, goals and challenges. In Deuteronomy Gods presents His people with a choice. “I lay before you this day … blessing or curses, life or death. Choose life that you may live.” It sounds so simple. Must God have to persuade us to choose life? Yet how often do I catch myself speaking words of death instead of words of life? During Easter, the season of life, let’s purposefully choose to stop speaking death and instead speak the word of life so we may rejoice in God’s goodness.

 To present: Holding fast the word of life does not mean we keep it to ourselves. As Christians we have been entrusted with the word of life, the gospel. We hold tightly to the word of life  in one hand as we present it with the other to the lost of the world. What better time to present the word of life then during the Easter season.

point to ponder

Into what area of your life does God want you to speak the word of life?

prayer

Dear Father,

Please help me to commit myself to wearing your Word. Each morning before I dress my physical body, may I remember to dress my spirit by studying your Word. I dress myself in your Word for a reason — so I may apply it. Applying your word to my life, relationships, and problems ensures they will work for my good and Your glory. Help me choose to speak life into my life. Words of death are for Good Friday, not Easter Sunday. As I speak the word of life into my cares and concerns, may I also speak it to others who are in great need of salvation.

In Jesus Holy Name,

Amen

book [boo k]

noun

1. the Book, the Bible.

2. anything that serves for the recording of facts or events

3. a set of rules, conventions, or standard

4. to reserve or make a reservation for

5. to register one’s name

For as long as I can remember, books have been a source of joy to me. When my sisters and I were just preschoolers, our mom would take us to the library and check out a big stack of books. Every afternoon or evening, we crowded around her to hear a new story. As I got older, I couldn’t wait to make my own selections at the library. Once I started receiving an allowance, I saved up my money and then walked downtown to Majerek’s Book Store each week to buy the latest book in my favorite mystery series. To this day I love books; my favorite one is the Bible.

In today’s scripture, we see an important book mentioned: the Book of Life. The Book of Life is kept in heaven, and it is filled with the names of those who trust in Jesus. If you have committed your life to Jesus and have asked him to forgive your sins, then just like definition #4 above says, God “makes a reservation” for you in heaven and writes your name in the Book of Life. 

Typically, when authors write a book, they write several drafts, adding new information and deleting parts they no longer want. In contrast, scripture tells us that the Author of the Book of Life will never delete any names that are written in it. This is evident by the way the verse is written in Greek. The Greek words for  I will not blot out are a double negative, ou me, that literally mean not not or not never. It is impossible that once a name is written in the Book of Life that it will ever be deleted. It is there forever. You do not need to fear that you will mess up so much that God is going to write you out of His story. It just can’t happen. The enemy will try to convince you otherwise, but do not fall for his deception. Rather, settle your heart on the truth of God’s word.

point to ponder

As we enter into Holy Week, meditate on the security that you have in Christ.

day [dey]

noun

1. the portion of a day allotted to work

2. a day on which something occurs

3. a day assigned to a particular purpose or observance

24 hours. One day. In Hebrew yowm, which means  a working day, a days journey, today, yesterday, tomorrow. In English: the portion of the day allotted to work.  We are all given the same amount of time each day to do the work God planned for us before He laid the foundations of the earth. Our tasks are to make disciples of all nations, edify the church, and bring glory to God. How we accomplish these three tasks depends on the gifts, talents, and resources God has blessed us with.

If our days are given to us to accomplish good works, and we are to read God’s word all the days of our life, God’s work and God’s word must be inextricably connected. Our good works will not be accomplished apart from the Word of God.

Please read the verbs from Deuteronomy 17:19 out loud. Each day we need to read, learn, and observe the word of God. God’s word is for all the days of our life … good days, hard days, challenging days, holy-days and holidays.

point to ponder:

How can I apply God’s word to my life today?

prayer

Dearest Father,

You have given me Your word for every day of my life, for my yesterdays, todays, and tomorrows. If You have commended me to read, learn and apply Your word each day, it must be because Your word will affect everything I do, every day of my life. In order to apply Your word, I must know Your word.  Help me to commit Your word to memory and to listen for Your word as I live each day of my life.

In Jesus Holy Name,

Amen.

previous posts

Day 1 : Breath of Life

Day 2: The Life

Day 3. Eternal Life

Day 4. The Life Which I Now Live

day. Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/day (accessed: February 23, 2015).

eternal [ih-tur-nl]

adjective

1. without beginning or end; lasting forever; always existing (opposed to temporal )

2. perpetual; ceaseless; endless:

3. existing outside all relations of time; not subject to change

4. timeless, immortal, deathless, undying, imperishable, indestructible.

What is eternal life? According to the dictionary definition, eternal life is ceaseless, endless, and perpetual. According to our verse, eternal life is knowing God and Jesus Christ. Eternal life doesn’t just originate with God, it is God.

The Greek word for know used in this passage of scripture is ginosko. Ginosko means, “to know, understand, perceive, have knowledge of, to know by observance and experience, the knowledge viewed as the result of prolonged practice.” Knowing God isn’t synonymous with just knowing about God; even the demons believe and tremble. In order to truly know Him, we must accept Jesus’ death on the cross as payment for our sins. Once we have accepted Christ, the way is made for us to truly know God, by closely observing and experiencing Him as He walks with us day by day for all eternity .

Since God is infinite, we will continuously know God. We will forever discover new facets of His character and nature. With each discovery, we will glorify His name and rejoice in His holiness and goodness.

While waiting for God’s eternal kingdom, we will either live for self (the temporary), or for God (the Eternal). We will either store up treasures on earth (temporary-they will not last) or we store up treasures in heaven (eternal– they will not end). One will leave us empty, the other will fill us to overflowing.

How can you begin your eternal relationship with the only true God? By asking Him to be your Savior. What better time to become a child of God than the Easter season. We pray you will make this crucial decision today.

For step by step instructions on how to accept Christ as your Savior, please click on one of  the following links:

The Way to God

Becoming a Christian

Point to Ponder:

To whom can I extend God’s invitation of eternal life?

 Prayer:

Dearest Holy Father,

I thank you that You are the only True God and You have made  the way for us to know You through Jesus. I  have hope eternal for my challenges and concerns, because You are eternal. Nothing or no one is ever beyond Your ability to mend, forgive, or resurrect. Right now, I pray You would help me use my gifts and talents to bring eternal life to those who are in desperate need of a Savior. Thank You for Your grace, love, and salvation that will last for all eternity.

In Jesus Holy Name,

Amen

Previous Posts

Day 1 : Breath of Life

Day 2: The Life