¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10 ESV)

What does our scripture mean when it says “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly?”

The first part of our scripture may be easy to understand because we know our enemy, the thief, means nothing good for us. But we may falter a bit on the second part. We may not really know how to experience an abundant life. We may be in a period where life feels anything but abundant. How then can we experience it abundantly?

Firstly, we must look into scripture at the many promises God has given us. Promises to prosper us and not grieve. But we may not know how these are represented in a life that may be filled with want and needs. It can be hard to separate earthly realities from heavenly promises.

Second, we must realize we may not necessarily reap the benefits here on earth and that knowledge can be hard. Consider the lives of the Disciples and how most of them died. Their lives, after Christ, were filled with heavenly glimpses, but hardness.

We must look beyond and steel ourselves for what might be right now, knowing that God is ever with us. To live abundantly is to embrace that fact and to accept the here and now.