01.10.2019
IBC Admin
Every person comes into this world thirsty, hungry and needy. That is our disposition because we are sinnners, born separated from God, and in need of new life. But now through Jesus a miracle happens. In Christ, our sins are not only forgiven and covered through His shed blood, but now through Him we receive new life and through His Spirit we become full and then can help others find fullness.
Jesus in John 10:10 told us that “I have come that you may have life and have it abundantly,” or as the NIV translates it “have life to the full.” Here Jesus is telling us that when we come to faith in Him, we go from living a life of deficiency and need to a life of abundance.
What this means practically is that when we come into a relationship with Him we go from being takers and paupers to a people who are givers. And when we become a people who can give out of abundance, we then become servants of God, a people who love others and also a people who learn to give generously of our time, talent and treasure.
Jesus put it this way in John 7:37-38, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” What is flowing out here? “Living water.” What does living water do. It is the very thing an unbelieving and dying world needs to receive life and abundance.
Every person comes into this world thirsty, hungry and needy. That is our disposition because we are sinnners, born separated from God, and in need of new life. But now through Jesus a miracle happens. In Christ, our sins are not only forgiven and covered through His shed blood, but now through Him we receive new life and through His Spirit we become full and then can help others find fullness.
I Peter 2:3-4 reminds us that through Christ our identity changes. We become part of a “chosen race, a royal priesthood and holy nation, a people for God’s own possession.” And this new identity gives us a new purpose, “that we may proclaim the exellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.” That is our posture towards a world that is in darkness, we become light givers.
So as we examine our lives in Christ, let us live out our lives from a place of abundance. This comes by faith when we realize that in Christ we no longer have any deficiency, but in fact are seen by God as "holy and blameless," and "have received every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies," through Him. (Eph 1:3-4) Amen