Life Abundantly

John 10:10 ESV summarizes the narrative of the Good Shepherd, saying, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

How do we think about the Lord? Can we see him as a Good Shepherd today? Perhaps you want to visit John chapter 10 yourself. You can read the story and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you through the words.

I’m thinking today about how different the mission of Jesus is from the enemy's mission. The enemy comes promising money, success, comfort, and pleasure with the intent of destroying your life. His entire scheme is based on trickery, drawing our attention away from the truth to capture us away from the life that Jesus gives.

Christ, on the other hand, comes empty. He lays down his life for the sheep and calls us to do the same. In surrendering everything we thought we needed, God brings abundant life we never imagined we could have.

This is the upside-down kingdom in which “whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25 ESV). How backward is that? Yet the truth is evident in our lives. You know this to be true for those of you who have walked with the Lord for many years. When you walk with the Lord and cling to your life, you receive a useless reward. When you surrender and allow God to lead you into the unknown, you find that he faithfully provides everything you need.

His gifts are better. His care is better. It is not that he wants us to live painful lives of scarcity. It is quite the opposite. His agenda is abundant life, and that is accessed through surrender.

Will you surrender today? Every second that we train our hearts and minds to follow the path of humility is a moment to grow in freedom.

One thing we know today is that God is not holding himself back. We might doubt such a promise from an ordinary person, but today we can look at the example of Jesus. He goes first and lays his life down. He follows through into glory, inviting us to do the same.

I wonder what is holding you back? What is God speaking to you today? Take a few moments and ask him to show you. If you don’t hear anything right away, try lingering a little longer; sometimes, we need to slow down enough to hear his whispers.

Be blessed today.

• Sign up for Abiding Daily text messages.

  Abiding happens daily in his presence. Abiding Daily is a simple and practical reminder to stay connected to the vine. Each prompt is inspired by the scriptures and designed to point you toward prayer and encounter. You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To get the Daily Invitation sent to you every day click this link or text “Daily” to +1 (779) 237-3914.

• Order a copy of Abiding Daily: Volume One – Our first devotional book.

  Our first devotional book is available on our online store! Abiding Daily: Volume One is a devotional book including 120 prompts from the Daily Invitation. This book is designed to help believers connect with God through the word and discover more of what it means to abide in Christ. Click here to learn more.