Jesus and abundant life

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. – John 10:10

Our goal in this life is to carry out Jesus one clearly stated commandment – to love one another as you love your yourself. This is a wonderful invitation to improve how you love yourself, and then to do the same – to love others in the same way we love ourselves. This is called 'the Jesus creed'.

In the anglican church I grew up in, I took seriously the words said every week before communion in "The Prayer of Humble Access" as we said "we are not worthy to gather up the crumbs under Your table". This prayer is not the words of Jesus, but of a Canaanite woman. It left me feeling that I was an emaciated and unworthy dog beneath a table.

It's not God's view of me at all. Jesus said to love others as I love myself. Jesus said I am worthy and He gave His life for me because He loves me. Perhaps someday I will love people ang give my life for them.

We really should realise that Jesus had good self esteem.

The disciples He chose were living their lives as fishermen and businessmen. Giving up all was rare and I see in the bible that it usually happened to people who had been living normal lives until that moment.

We don't know what John the Baptist was doing beforre he went all hairy. I doubt he had been 'prepare ye the way'ing for decades, I suspect he had been living his life for a while but only stepped out at the right time when as with the disciples, God told them to leave everything and come do something special.

This is true for most, they lived a normal life until the call came to leave everything for the sake of the kingdom.

Many people wanted to follow Him, but they had suffered so much and He probably knew they would have the inner stregth to do it, so He told them to go to their church and tell about what He had done. It was a call of sorts, but not one to have them forsake all.

It was compassionate that He sent them back to rest and heal and recover.

We may get the call, but *until* that day comes, lets grow, heal, learn about Him, love ourselves, love others with what we have.

Because we are able to accumulate nice things, I do suggest we recognise that it is God who made it possible for us to have them and therefore give Him thanks for them. As we acquire things we should avoid making them into an idol.

I and others have found that no matter how much we acquire, the most wonderful feeling of joy can only be found when loving others.

It is this hope that Jesus had – that our joy may become full as His was.

Filed under: Healing