The last two days we have been answering the question: “What is abundant life NOT?” This is our current list:

1. Abundant Life is NOT equal to material wealth.
2. Abundant Life is NOT equal to the approval of man.

Today, I want to continue this conversation by adding:

3. Abundant Life is NOT a picture-perfect life.                                                    Social Media has done a great job of making us believe that there is such a thing as a picture-perfect life. No one is going to purposely post a terrible picture of themselves. At least I’m not! And most of us wisely don’t use social media to talk about the trouble with our teens or a fight with our husband. (By the way, if you are doing that, please stop.) My point is, these days we can subtly fall for the lie that other people have picture-perfect lives and that MUST be what abundant life looks like.

If you study any of the main characters of the Bible, you will see that none of them had a picture perfect life.

Abraham and Sarah dealt with infertility.

Jacob had a terrible relationship with his twin brother. He was also manipulated by his father-in-law.

Noah was mocked for his obedience to God. Later, he was discovered by his sons in a drunken state, which led to a split in the family.

Joseph was betrayed by his family members, falsely accused of wrong-doing and served time in jail for a crime he did not commit.

David was an adulterer.

The list goes on and on.

Even the lineage of Jesus, our Perfect Savior gives evidence of an imperfect family line. The lineage which brought about the only perfect human being was sprinkled with those who had great imperfections and sins, including those who were experienced in prostitution, adultery, and rejection. What is my point? My point is that your life, nor mine, will ever be perfect—at least not on this side of heaven. But abundant life does not equate with perfect life.

The abundant life God offers us will fill our imperfect lives with meaning. It will gives us faith and peace and patience—and even gratitude—in the midst of the imperfections. Remember, my friends, God is pleased to give you the Kingdom. He gives good gifts to His children. He gives more than enough—to the point that our cups overflow with every good thing. Our lives will not always be picture perfect. But they will be full—full of all that is important and fulfilling. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Praying for you today!

Sara

Yesterday we continued our discussion of what Abundant Life is NOT. We clarified that:

1. Abundant Life is NOT equal to material wealth.

Though God does care about our physical and even financial needs, wealth is not the ultimate abundant life God offers us. Wealth pales in comparison to the treasure of abundant life God offers us. In addition, we must also realize that:

2. Abundant Life is NOT equal to the approval of man.

When my daughter was around 10 years old, we began to work with her on becoming more self-sufficient. We wanted her to take responsibility for her daily care, including getting dressed in the mornings. One Sunday in July we decided to go to church with my parents. Their church was more formal than our church, and I sent Katie upstairs to shower, wash her hair, and “put on something decent” which is my way of saying get “dressed up.”

When it was time to leave, I called everyone down to get in the car. I looked up the stairs to see my precious daughter descending the steps. Her blond hair was clean and brushed. She had even tried to curl it with the curling iron. She looked beautiful. I am ashamed to say, however, that I stopped cold in my tracks for the “something decent” she had chosen to wear was the nicest dress in her closet. It was a long-sleeve, black velvet dress with satin trim. Did I mention it was July?

If you grew up in the South, you are feeling my pain of that moment. Every Southern girl knows not to wear black velvet in July. In about 2 seconds, I had a choice to make. Would I worry about what all the other good Southern ladies would think of my mothering? (i.e. “Doesn’t she know not to dress her child in velvet in July?”) Or would I applaud my daughter for not only obeying me but also for going above and beyond what I had asked of her. I am ashamed now that I even had to think it through. I quickly recovered and smiled and hugged her and told her how beautiful she was and how proud I was of her.

I wish I could tell you this type of event only occurred in my younger days. But that is not the truth. I still worry about what people think. I wish I didn’t. I often have to pray, “Lord, heal me of my people-pleasing habits.” I long to get to what I call, “The Third Level of Freedom.”

The first level of freedom comes when we accept Christ and are freed from the chains of sin and death. The next level of freedom comes when those areas of bondage are healed and we are released to serve God with joy. I believe I have in many areas of my life reached the second level of freedom. I find the most joy, most comfort in obedience to God. I truly want to do things His Way. However, I haven’t quite reached the third level of freedom. In the third level of freedom, not only does one find the most joy and comfort in obedience to God, but on top of it all, they don’t worry about what others think about it, so wholly is their focus on Him. I have had moments of that third level of freedom—enough moments to know the difference. Enough moments to realize I have not reached it in all areas of my life.

I have the type personality that relishes peace with everyone. I hate it when I think someone is mad at me, or when I feel I have disappointed anyone. It can send me into a tailspin, even if it is a small issue. Let’s face it, we like people to like us. But we are told that there will be times when people don’t like us, simply because we follow God. Hear the words of John 15:18-20.

 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.  Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’  If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.”

We will sometimes have to disappoint people in order to stay true to God’s call on our lives. I have a feeling that this reality will become even more true in the coming days. We must decide now whom we will serve. And we must trust that if our choice is God Almighty, He will abundantly give us everything we need to have the strength and courage to follow Him. May you settle this today and every day for the rest of your lives. I am praying for you!

Sara

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua 24:16

Yesterday, I posed the question, “What is abundant life NOT?” The first answer I want us to think about is:

1. Abundant Life is NOT equal to material wealth.

You see, our Western Christianity sometimes equates abundant life with material wealth. Some take this to the extreme by implying that if you do not have material wealth, God has not blessed you. This is simply not true.

Yes, He does provide for our needs. (Philippians 4:19)

Yes, He does own the cattle on a thousand hills. (Psalm 50:10-11)

Yes, He does often crown our efforts with material success. (Proverbs 3:6)

But these verses cannot be separated from other verses,

which tell us blessed are the poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3),

which tell us how hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, (Matthew 19:24)

which tell us to sell our possessions and give to the poor. (Mark 10:21)

There is a wonderful promise found in Malachi 3:10

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

In this verse we learn of the concept that when we trust God with our finances enough to give generously and joyfully, we will receive back so much blessing we will not have room enough to store it. Sometimes this includes material wealth. But more importantly, it includes spiritual and emotional wealth. If the blessing does indeed include material wealth, we must remember we are blessed to be a blessing. Our blessing from God should overflow to others. That is our response to abundant life.

Back in the late 80’s, my best friend and I lived in Costa Rica as missionary teachers. We taught in a Christian school in San Jose, but each Saturday morning we caught a bus to a refugee camp called Los Guidos. Los Guidos consisted of hundreds of makeshift, dirt-floored houses, built of scraps of wood or pieces of tin. Basically, they were simply shelters from the daily rain. Over several months, we began to develop friendships with the children, many of whom waited faithfully each Saturday for our bus to arrive. One of these faithful children was a 12-year-old boy named Enrique. Enrique attended our Bible school each week, regardless of which sector we were scheduled. One Saturday, after Bible school, Enrique invited us to walk to his house to meet his family. We agreed to go, and he joyfully led us on the dirt road to his house. When we arrived, we saw a 1-room shack, built up on stilts to avoid the mudslides of the embankment on which it was built. We climbed the muddy hill to get to the entrance, thankful that we had chosen to wear our hiking boots that day.

When we entered his home, we were greeted by his mother, father, and 3 siblings, all who lived together in the 1-room home. The home was mostly empty, except for a worn sofa and a few other belongings in the corner of the room. There was one big “window” on the back wall of the home, which was simply a big rectangle cut out of the plywood wall.   The window had no glass, and I just assumed that they must cover the space with a piece of cloth or plastic when the rain came.

Enrique was obviously so very excited to have us as guests in his home. The rest of the family greeted us with sincere hospitality, and we were amazed with the joy exuding from their home, despite their obvious poor conditions. I could tell that Enrique was anxious and excited to show us something, although I could not see what that could be, considering the sparseness of the room. We followed him over to the back wall where the opening was cut for the window. With a grand sweeping motion, he presented the object of his excitement. What he was so anxious to show us was the view of the mountains, which could be seen from the opening. It was breathtaking! We all stood for several minutes taking in the scene, pausing to focus on the beautiful details, which Enrique obviously considered his own precious treasure.

My life was changed that day. I began to see things differently. I began to see things with Enrique’s perspective. Enrique did not focus on what he did not have. Enrique focused on the great blessings that had so richly been bestowed upon him. I have read that “Contentment is not the fulfillment of what we want, but the realization of what we already possess.” My friends, pray that God opens your eyes to the abundant life He has already given you.

Praying for you today!

Sara

Today, I want us to go back and read the whole passage from John 10:10-16. Ask the Lord to reveal to you truth He wants you to know. Read it aloud if you can.

The Good Shepherd and His Sheep

10 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.

7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

Our focus verse is verse 10. Let’s re-read it now.

10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Abundant Life … such a beautiful phrase often tossed around in the language of Christianese, but what is it? According to my computer dictionary the word abundant is an adjective which means: existing or available in large quantities; plentiful.

It means having plenty of something.

God wants to give you life and give you plenty of it. He wants to give you overflowing life, so richly blessed that it overflows to others around you. He wants to rid you of all that is dead and rotting in your life.  He invites you to rid yourself of grave clothes.  Why?  Because He has made us People of Life.  Abundant, overflowing LIFE!

It is important to note that abundant life is for believers. What is the heading of the scripture passage? It is THE GOOD SHEPHERD AND HIS SHEEP. These are the secrets of the Kingdom, which we gain access to when we become believers.

So, when Jesus says he came so that we may have abundant life, it means he came to give us life in large quantities, it means we can have plenty of life. But what does this mean practically?

It might be helpful to look at this from a different direction. Let’s ask ourselves what abundant is NOT.

1. Abundant Life is NOT equal to material wealth.
2. Abundant Life is NOT equal to the approval of man.
3. Abundant Life is NOT a picture-perfect life.
4. Abundant Life is NOT found when everything is going just as we want it to—because life on this earth will never be exactly just the way we want it.

For the next few days we are going to break it down further and remember what abundant life is NOT so we can clear our minds and hearts to receive all that abundant life IS.  Pray that the Good Shepherd would help you understand the gifts of abundant life He longs for you to receive.  Read once again what it means when the Lord is your shepherd.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

Psalm 23:1,5-6

Amen and amen!  I am praying for you, friends!

Sara

Today, as we review, I want you to ask yourself the questions attached to each characteristic. May the light of His love show you the truth He wants to reveal to each of you. You may want to answer these question over several days and meditate on each one. Click here to purchase a study guide for this material.

If you choose to read through the questions without writing your answers, please pause on each question to formulate your answer.

1. Sheep don’t see very well. In what areas of your life have you been blind? Read 2 Corinthians 5:7 and ask the Lord to calm your confusion, give you clarity, and give you peace.
2. Sheep don’t hear very well. Do you have trouble discerning the will of God? Do you worry and fret about decisions you must make, big or small? Read Isaiah 30:21 and John 10:27. Ask the Lord to speak loudly and tell Him you are ready to listen.
3. The biggest enemy of the sheep is the fox. Do you realize that Satan, our great enemy, often uses small, irritating things in our life to steal our peace and kill our spiritual progress? Do you have issues in your life that Satan is using against you? Read 1 John 4:4. Ask the Lord to help you decrease, so He can increase in every situation of your life.
4. Sheep are not very courageous. They panic easily. However, they are very resilient. What things in your life are causing you to panic? What areas cause you to feel weak? Read Lamentations 3:22-24.
5. Sheep are healthy and happy when their shepherd is gentle, kind, intelligent, brave, and selfless. Do you trust the goodness of God? Read Isaiah 9:6-7 to find out more of His wonderful attributes.
6. Sheep are marked on the ear with the distinct mark of their shepherd. Do you have the distinct mark of the great Shepherd? Do others know that you are a follower of Jesus? How well is your life reflecting the Lord? What areas of your life do you need to become more like Him? Read Galatians 5:22-23.
7. Sheep will lie down only when four requirements are met: They must be free of all fear.  They must be free of friction with other sheep. They must not be tormented by flies or other pests. They must be free from hunger.  What are your fears? With whom do you have friction? What torments you? What do you long for? Read Philippians 4:19.
8. Sheep have a “butting order”. Who do you feel competitive towards? Is there anyone you are jealous of? How can you reach out in love to that person? Read 1Corinthians 3:2-3.
9. When sheep are thirsty, they become restless and begin to search for water. They will drink any water they can find—even polluted water. What are your deepest needs, your deepest longings? What are your habits of trying to meet those needs—what is your polluted water? Ask the Lord to free you of self-medicating your soul. Read Proverbs 3:5-6.
10. A sheep is “cast down” when it is turned over on its back and cannot get up again. A cast sheep will die if its owner does not get to it in time to right it. Read Psalm 42:5-6. Have you ever felt “cast-down”? Did you turn to the Lord or to the world for comfort during that time? Do you feel cast-down now? In which areas of your life do you need to trust God more?
11. Sheep are very bothered by flies; a shepherd must apply an ointment to their heads to prevent flies from going up their noses. What is bothering you? What garbage do you need to remove from your life so that the flies will go away? Read Hebrews 1:9.
12. Sheep are the most fit and healthy and strong in autumn. In autumn the leaves are so beautiful. But what is really happening? They are dying. We, too, are most fit, healthy, strong and beautiful when we die to our own selfish desires. In what area of your life are you selfish? What is your plan to change this? Read Philippians 2:3-16.
13. Sheep who are well cared for will benefit the land—they eat undesirable weeds, and their manure is an excellent fertilizer. How can your life story benefit the kingdom of God? Which of your mistakes can He redeem to help others? Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 and 2 Corinthians 5:17.
14. Sheep are creatures of habit and will follow the same trails until they become ruts and graze on the same pasture until grass can no longer grow there. They must often move to fresh pastures. What are your comfort zones? How can you get out of these comfort zones in order to experience a more abundant life? Read Isaiah 42:16.
15. Shepherds carry only a rod and a staff. The rod is a piece of wood with a knobbed end that the shepherd uses to protect himself and the flock from predators. He also uses it to discipline wayward sheep. The staff is a long, slender stick with a hook on one end. The shepherd used the staff to catch sheep and draw them near for examination and is used for guiding sheep into a new path or through a gate or along a dangerous route. The shepherd also uses the staff to get a sheep free from a bush in which it is tangled or reach them when they’ve fallen off a cliff onto a ledge. Read Psalm 23 once again. How is the Lord speaking to you right now? Will you trust the Good Shepherd?

Whew! Okay, Sheeple. Let’s go out and trust the Good Shepherd, for we are His sheep.

 Know that the Lord is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

                                            Psalm 100:3