What is abundant life? How does it change things?

Today’s text is JOHN 10:1-10

Jesus tells his disciples, and those all around him, including Pharisees and gentiles. I have that that you might have life, and have it abundantly!

What is he talking about? Isn’t life just life? What does he mean?

One way to to approach this is to consider what abundance might really mean for us in our lives. One of the primary things that divides us from others and keeps us from trusting God is our belief that there isn’t enough.
There isn’t enough food, enough money, enough to go around. There isn’t enough time, justice, or love. There just isn’t enough.
The world shows us this again and again. Or at least it is the lesson we seem to learn. But what if there was abundance? What if there is abundance? When we live with this attitude, that God will provide, it frees us to share with others. It frees us to bless others as we have been blessed. This is not only appropriate for our possessions and supplies, but it is also especially appropriate for our hearts and our lives.
When there is enough love to go around, we aren’t stingy or afraid we won’t be able to care for someone who is hard to care for. When there is ultimately justice that will make things right, we can keep working for justice now with hope, even if we don’t make it to the finish line. When there is enough life, enough time, we need t rush through things, or desperately cling to our personal time or work. Instead, we can live humbly knowing that there is more than enough. The attitude of abundance is a trust attitude in the one who loves us.

Prayer: God you provide for us. Help to see this and trust you in your promises so that we might live in the kingdom life now, sharing freely, loving generously, and at ease with each day and what it brings. AMEN.