Day 23- Be Encouraged: You Can Have Abundant Life

John 10:10 (KJV)

"... I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

Jesus goes on to say, "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."

There is no one who is more concerned with you having an abundant life than Jesus! He is so concerned for His children that He gave His life.

Let's look for a moment on what abundant life means.


The word translated abundant in John 10:10 according to Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionary means "exceeding abundantly above, more abundantly, advantage, exceedingly, very highly, beyond measure, more, superfluous, vehement [-ly]." 

If you read all of John 10 you see that Jesus was saying the thief (satan) has come to destroy your life.  Jesus came to GIVE you superabundant life -life beyond measure! 

Does it mean a Cadillac in every garage and designer clothes in every closet?  Of course not!

I believe it means He came to give you an enjoyable life - a fruitful life.  He died so that at the end of your life you can look back and say, "It was a good life and I see fruit that remains because I was here."  

Some will look back and see a self-centered life that was empty because satan had stolen their joy.

Some will not know the Master's voice because they really weren't His sheep.  They were following another - another who did not lay his life down for the sheep, but instead TAKES from the sheep.


Don't let that be you!


If you'd like to read the entire 31 Days of Encouragement series, click here.