Fullness of Life
John 10:10 records Jesus' famous statement that He has come to give us life "to the full" (NIV). Other Bible translations speak of "abundant life."
Here is a partial list of important components of this "full" life. Try to add other components to that list and find scriptural support for these various aspects:
1. It is a life full of possibilities.
2. It is a life with a purpose.
3. It is a life of inner peace.
4. It is a life with a mission.
As we grow in our Christian life, we become more and more convinced that Christ does indeed offer us life "to the full." We often have, however, a hard time explaining this to those who have not committed themselves to Christ. For them the Christian life appears to be rather boring. They dislike the fact that it seems to bring all kinds of restrictions. But Christians have learned that not all experiences one might have do actually make our lives richer. Many things we might do carry a minus sign rather than a plus sign and contribute to an inner emptiness rather than a fullness of life.
What are some kinds of experiences we're all better off without, and why?
"Life to the full" is not a combination of good health, good looks, satisfactory education, and a nice income. And although strong, loving relationships are certainly part of it, there is considerably more than these things. Life "to the full" is the kind of life that has meaning. It is a life that issues inner peace. Its happiness does not depend primarily on external, material circumstances. It is a life that is connected to the Source of Life and will, therefore, be eternal. Why does all this talk of an "abundant life" sound pleasing? What about those who seem to have an "abundant life" but don't know Jesus and don't seem to have the slightest interest in knowing Him? How do we understand this phenomenon, especially when we all know Christians who are suffering terribly now? See 2 Cor. 4:18.
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