The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
What is an abundant life?
And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
It does not sound like Jesus lived a life of abundance, at least not in terms we might think. We are raised to take care of ourselves, get a career, make a home for ourselves and raise a family and have the resources to enrich our family life. We buy things of value and try our best to build a life that has a legacy of success that carries on for generations.
So how do we balance what we deem as the abundant life with what Jesus is offering us?
- Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. - 2 Corinthians 3:18
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
According to Romans 12:2 we should take on a new mindset to think in different terms as to what is good or acceptable or perfect. To change that “or” to an “and” takes a whole new way of thinking.
2 Corinthians 3:18 implies if we stop hiding from God we may see His glory and notice just how much we are being changed from a world seeking person to a God seeking person.
If we want worldly things, we don’t want to be like Jesus. When Jesus said He is the way, the truth and the life, then having more of Jesus in our lives is a more abundant life.
And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
What keeps us from making sacrifices?