JOHN 10:10 – The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
THEME OF THE DAY: THE ABUNDANT LIFE OR THE BORED LIFE? One of the predominant characteristics found in our world is the ease people become bored. It isn’t just children who lament to parents, “I am bored. There is nothing to do.” Adults suffer this attitude as well. Ever wonder why people seem to be always craving something new? The list is long. Here are a few: a car, phone, clothes, books, home, location, and even a new relationship or church? Could it be things in life have become stale, routine, or boring to include our Christian lives? If so, there is a problem. Frankly, a big problem.
In today’s scripture, we find the Lord Jesus proclaiming a key reason why He came to earth – to give us life, and not just life, but abundant life. What does that mean? Well, let’s first define what Jesus promises. The word abundant means “extraordinary, remarkable, out of the norm” and points to anything but boring. Does that describe your Christian life? Mine? If that is what the normal Christian life is to be, then to be bored, suffer boredom, and be boring is not the Christian life Jesus came to give. And if we think about what the Christian life is, how could it be dull and routine? The words “boring”, “bored”, and “boredom” should not be in a Christian’s vocabulary. How can we ever suffer these worldly attitudes when we have a God to know, a devil to fight, a world to refuse, a sinful flesh to subdue, a glorious gospel to share, suffering people to serve, a holy life to pursue, and a Bible to read and study? Christians have no reason to be bored. Jesus came to give abundant life not a worldly boring life.
So, how do we pursue this abundant life and how would we know if we are experiencing this remarkable fullness Jesus describes? First, the pursuit. To know the abundant life, we must be saturated with the scripture. Our minds must be filled with the Word of God or to put it in scriptural terms, the words of the Apostle Paul to the Colossians must be a reality in our lives – Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God (Colossians 3:16). When a Christian is being transformed in mind, heart, and will, the abundant life is defined.
And that leads to the next application – how would we know if we are experiencing this extraordinary life? There are multiple forms of evidence like the development of the Fruit of the Spirit – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23). As we become like Christ, we are developing the relationship with Christ, and that is never boring. But another piece of evidence, and it is high on the list of importance, revealing the abundant life is what we are enjoying is captured in one word – contentment. The contented Christian is not the bored Christian and contentment comes from resting in the sovereignty of God in His providence and provision for us, and learning to submit to all circumstances. We see the model of both in the life of the Apostle Paul – Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me (Philippians 4:11-13).
So what describes our Christian lives? Abundant life or the bored life? Let’s strive for the former and not settle with the latter.
PRAYER: “Father, help me to fight against the worldly attitudes of boring, bored, and boredom.”
QUOTE: “It is never right for a Christian to be bored. It is a sign of spiritual indifference, even backsliding.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim