From time to time, sermons will surprise me with a unique take on life. I’ve heard countless messages on living the abundant life promised by Jesus. Yet, when you look throughout the greater church community, many believers find their lives void of experiencing God’s promises in the Bible. Today’s blog hopes to shine light on why this is happening.
I am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live). He will come in and he will go out [freely], and will find pasture. 10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it [b]overflows). 11 I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd risks and lays down His [own] life for the sheep. 12 But the hired servant (he who merely serves for wages) who is neither the shepherd nor the owner of the sheep, when he sees the wolf coming, deserts the flock and runs away. And the wolf chases and snatches them and scatters [the flock], John 10:9-12.
While Albert Einstein is famous for many things that he did, one of his quotes explains why Christians may not experience God’s promises from the Bible in their lives on earth. Einstein once said: “insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” Living the abundant life that Jesus promises above requires believers to be all in with their whole heart.
And how can men [be expected to] preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings! [How welcome is the coming of those who preach the good news of His good things!] 16 But they have not all heeded the Gospel; for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed (had faith in) what he has heard from us? 17 So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself), Romans 10:15-17.
Meanwhile, one Old Testament prophet wrote that people perish for a lack of knowledge, Hosea 4:6. Unless Christians habitually walk with God by studying the Bible daily, you won’t know God’s promises. Subsequently, if you don’t know God’s promises, you won’t actively pray for and claim these promises for your own life. A lack of full devotion and knowledge of the Bible are two main barriers preventing many Christians from experiencing the abundant life of Christ today.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 