Notice the last word in this verse: abundantly. Dictionary.com offers the following synonyms for "abundantly": affluently, amply, fulsomely, generously, handsomely, inexhaustibly, lavishly, luxuriantly, profusely, richly, satisfactorily, sufficiently
Other Bible translations provide these interpretations of this verse. Again, pay attention to the last part of the verse.
"The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life." (New Living Translation)
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (New International Version)
"The robber comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I came so they might have life, a great full life." (New Life Version)
An abundant life, a satisfying life, a life to the full, a great full life...however you choose to say it...whichever interpretation you like the best...the point is the same. Jesus came so that we can have a wonderful, abundant, joy-filled life.
But He didn't just come... He came and He suffered and He died. So often we neglect to see the full impact of this statement. Think about it with me for just a minute.
First of all, God had to send His son for Jesus to come. Now I don't know about you, and I've never been to Heaven, but there is no way I would ever want to leave there to come to this earth...and I sure wouldn't want to make my children do it. But Jesus did. God sent Him and He came. He left the splendor, the glory, the perfection of Heaven to come to this ugly, dark, sinful, mean world...knowing what would happen to Him. And did it ever happen. He was persecuted and teased and harassed and mocked and eventually killed in a very cruel and inhumane way...all so that we could have life.
Think about that. All of that was done for us. For me. For you. So why in the world would we ever go through our lives grumbling and complaining and moaning and groaning? Yet we do. We let this ugly, dark, mean world steal our joy and rob us of the very reason Jesus came and died....so that we can have an abundant joyful life.
You may say, "But I've got problems," or "You don't know my circumstances. I've got a lot to complain about." That may be true. But there's not a person on this earth that doesn't have problems. You may have a lot to complain about, but you've got a lot to rejoice about, too. You just have to make up your mind to focus on one instead of the other. It's all a mindset.
So what are you waiting for? Make up your mind that no matter what your circumstance, no matter how deep the valley you may be in, no matter what happens in your life today...make up your mind that you're going to find some joy in every situation and start living that abundant, satisfying, great full life that Jesus died for you to live! Come on, get happy!!
"The robber comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I came so they might have life, a great full life." (New Life Version)
An abundant life, a satisfying life, a life to the full, a great full life...however you choose to say it...whichever interpretation you like the best...the point is the same. Jesus came so that we can have a wonderful, abundant, joy-filled life.
But He didn't just come... He came and He suffered and He died. So often we neglect to see the full impact of this statement. Think about it with me for just a minute.
First of all, God had to send His son for Jesus to come. Now I don't know about you, and I've never been to Heaven, but there is no way I would ever want to leave there to come to this earth...and I sure wouldn't want to make my children do it. But Jesus did. God sent Him and He came. He left the splendor, the glory, the perfection of Heaven to come to this ugly, dark, sinful, mean world...knowing what would happen to Him. And did it ever happen. He was persecuted and teased and harassed and mocked and eventually killed in a very cruel and inhumane way...all so that we could have life.
Think about that. All of that was done for us. For me. For you. So why in the world would we ever go through our lives grumbling and complaining and moaning and groaning? Yet we do. We let this ugly, dark, mean world steal our joy and rob us of the very reason Jesus came and died....so that we can have an abundant joyful life.
You may say, "But I've got problems," or "You don't know my circumstances. I've got a lot to complain about." That may be true. But there's not a person on this earth that doesn't have problems. You may have a lot to complain about, but you've got a lot to rejoice about, too. You just have to make up your mind to focus on one instead of the other. It's all a mindset.
So what are you waiting for? Make up your mind that no matter what your circumstance, no matter how deep the valley you may be in, no matter what happens in your life today...make up your mind that you're going to find some joy in every situation and start living that abundant, satisfying, great full life that Jesus died for you to live! Come on, get happy!!
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