Abundant Life Stolen

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John‬ ‭10‬:‭10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Reflection: what was the last thing the devil stole from you? 

Most people invest a lot in all sorts of anti theft tools and devices, to deter and prevent thieves access to our valuable stuff. We protect our houses and cars, our bank accounts and investments, and the newest, valuable asset being our personal data. Everything we do on the internet, every small click or action, is being recorded and later sold. While we might think we are looking at products to figure out which one we want to buy, we are not realizing that in fact we are actually the product, for companies. That we are being used. Manipulated. Cleverly disguised as shopping options, choices to consider, bundling alternatives, payment options, customer reviews, and so on. 

I decided to buy a garden umbrella online earlier this summer. It took me so much longer to investigate a seemingly endless number of choices of fabrics, sizes, shapes colors, bases, etc. What perhaps would have taken me a few minutes at the local store, took me hours investigating choices I could not touch and feel, until shipped to our house. And once I chose one and had it shipped, it didn’t look at all like the pictures. The base was very poorly designed. And, I now wondered how this product could have received all the 5-star reviews I read. What did they see? So, I decide to  contact the company for a return. And, then I had to repackage and drive to a FedEx office for a drop off return. And I thought to myself, what a waste of time and energy! So I ended up running down to a local store, picking up an umbrella which took me literally a fraction of the time. 

But when we stop and think about it, was all that time, all the energy, and all the shopping data just stolen from me, or did I give it away voluntarily? I certainly didn’t realize the level of “investment” I needed to make to purchase this umbrella online. Speaking of stealing, isn’t that a characteristic of the enemy? Jesus said that the enemy comes to “steal and kill and destroy”. But notice that he doesn’t say “what” exactly he is trying to “steal, kill and destroy” from us, right? We can of course deduce what he is trying to steal from what Jesus gives, which is “life”, that this is specifically what the enemy wants to take from us. Abundant life. So what does that look like, practically speaking? What is Jesus giving, that the enemy is working hard to steal, to kill and destroy? 

Paul wrote about number of times about the fruit of the Spirit, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭ESV‬. We probably all would like a good, healthy portion of all of that, right? I mean, who wouldn’t want a lot of love? Isn’t that what man has been searching for since the beginning of time? And is still seeking? How about a big serving of joy? Or of

peace? And so on. But, this is exactly what life in Jesus is, what “abundant life” looks like. What the enemy is trying to take from us. It is ours, given to us by our Father. The enemy doesn’t have claim to it; he has to steal it. To kill it. To destroy it. 

Do you feel a bit shortchanged of love? Perhaps of joy? How about of peace? Etc? If so, clearly the enemy has been taken life from you that belongs to you. That Jesus has given you abundantly. Perhaps it is time we stay no. We must reclaim what is rightfully ours, given to us by our God, and not so easily give it up. Not to let him cheat us from our abundant life. 

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