Awakened to Abundance: Living an Abundant life in Christ

⁶⁴ The earth is filled with your love, LORD;

teach me your decrees.

Psalms 119:64

Jesus said that He came so that we might live life more abundantly. To have a more abundant life in Christ. He contrasts himself as the Good Shepherd compared to the enemy who has come to steal, kill, and destroy. We might expect Christ to simply be our Defender from this enemy. He might have said that He has come to keep us safe, or maybe, to protect us from the evil one. It is true that He is also our Refuge and our Protector, but first, He is the giver of abundant life. He wants us to enjoy life. Are you?

He is not only interested in ensuring we have the sustenance we need, but also that we experience the pleasure of barbecue done just right, and to savor the decadent, melt-in-your-mouth perfection of Momma’s chocolate cake, topped with Blue Bell ice cream, of course. He has given us taste buds to enjoy His creation. He has made our skin sensitive to the touch. We fall into the arms of a lover, feel the weight of an infant sleeping on our chest, and the embrace of a friend. Even in the invisible air, He has fragranced for our enjoyment. From the delicate rose petal to the scent of just fallen rain, He delights our senses. Our bodies have been created perfectly to embody His love that touches us all around. 

The only conclusion we can draw from the natural sensory communion embedded in our design and immersive environment is that God wants us to enjoy this life. He has come to give us an abundant life. The love that fills this Earth proves His intent for us to have the best life possible. The questions we must ask ourselves are whether we trust His intent and His ability to manifest this most beautiful life. 

If we trust His intent and His capacity to give us an abundant life, then we will follow the path He has laid out. To reject His path is to ignore everything He has done to prove His intention. It is to treat the symbiotic design of our life in nature as though it were meaningless. Each time our senses are awakened is a reminder of His greatest desire - to give His children the best life possible. Not only this, but the pervasive evidence of how He has filled the earth with His love proves His ability. We can trust His way, and when we do, the beauty of His creation, as wonderful as it is, will only be the opening act of the life He gives. As certain as the sun will rise in the morning, we can trust His way to abundant life.

Prayer: Lord, help me to be awakened to Your promise and Your power to motivate me more and more to follow Your way to an abundant life. Amen.