The Abundant Life
A couple Sundays ago, our good friend Reggie McNeal came and visited us! While here, he encouraged us to move deeper into living and experiencing life as God intended AND to be a catalyst for others to do the same. This is what God’s Kingdom is all about. Being set free mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually from the traps, addictions, systems and everything else that keeps us from experiencing the abundant/eternal life God has for us so we can actually live into it! It's what Jesus spoke of when He quoted the Book of Isaiah and said, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Jesus then went on to say to those who were present, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Why?
Because it is through Jesus we are freed, transformed and equipped to “live, love and grow” into life as God intended.
The question, or rather, the challenge for us is, will we actually do this?
I ask because God’s Kingdom life is NOT easy.
There is a reason Jesus gave a series of warnings at the end of His famous “Sermon on the Mount” found in the book of Matthew. A sermon in which He revisited, reimagined and retaught life in God’s Kingdom.
The first warning Jesus gave was an encouragement for us to choose the right path: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
The second warning was a heads up to look out for people who want to pull us off the right path: “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them.”
Jesus’ final warning was a reminder that “going along for the ride” or “tagging along” with the right people does not make us God’s Kingdom Citizens – what makes us Kingdom citizens is following Jesus and doing what He said: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons, and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers! Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
Here's the point, if life as God intended was easy, we wouldn’t need the warnings. We would all be doing it!
But, forgiveness is hard. Self-sacrifice is uncomfortable. humility is difficult. Being honest is costly. All of these are hard and are all a part of God’s Kingdom Life!
However, they are worth it! God’s Kingdom life is worth it!
You see, when we commit to live, love and grow into life as God intended, our lives become imprinted with God’s love. A love defined by humility, forgiveness, self-sacrifice, and truth – the very things we are called to do!
And when our lives become imprinted with God’s love, we will reflect and produce the fruit God intended: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.
And when this happens, everything changes!!!
Why?
Because we and everyone around us, genuinely begin to experience the abundant life God intended for us!
So I’ll ask the question again (and yes, I am asking myself the very same thing):
Will we trust Jesus and live, love and grow into life as God intended?!
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Justin