We’ve talked about having abundant life when life is uncertain or hard, but what about when you don’t feel like you deserve life abundant?
When Adam and Eve were in the garden of Eden, they initially had a perfect relationship with God. He delighted in them and they delighted in Him. They lived in this beautiful, abundant, place where everything was perfect. Unfortunately, it didn’t last. They eventually gave in to Satan’s temptations and lies and ate from the one tree God specifically asked them not to. They were cut off from God, they felt ashamed, and this perfect relationship they had with God was forever severed. This time in history is often referred to as “The Fall" and it forever changed our world. We aren’t born into a perfect world and we don’t have a perfect relationship with God right off the bat. Jesus is the only way to bind us back to God and he’s the only one that cleanses us from our sin and makes us whole again.
The Enemy of our hearts is still very crafty in how he tries to draw us away from God. He tricks us into thinking, “I don’t belong here” or “I don’t deserve this”, or any number of lies he can use simply to draw you away from the heart of God.
The verse that this whole "31 day series" is based on is John 10:10: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
He has come that we may have life to the full. But theres a big, elephant in the room, sentence right before it. The thief (Enemy or Satan) comes to steal, kill and destroy. What does he come to steal, kill or destroy? Anything that draws us closer to God.
Talking about the Enemy is not something a lot of people are super comfortable with. Umm, yeah…I get it. It’s NOT comfortable. There’s someone out there who wants to steal, kill and destroy my life? That sounds scary. But, remember, there’s a second part to the sentence, right? I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. We can breathe a sigh of relief as we read that. Even though the Enemy is out to steal, kill and destroy, we have a God who is MUCH stronger, MUCH more powerful, and who has ALREADY WON. He conquered our sin and shame when He rose from the grave.
"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5).
We’re healed, made whole and given life to the full. Even though we don’t deserve it, He paid the price for us. You see, He wanted to give us life abundant, not because we deserve it, but because it brings Him delight. If we continue to listen to the lie that we don’t deserve it, we’re giving into the Enemy's schemes to keep us from God.
Jesus, help us to release any shame we might be holding onto that tells us we’re not worthy of your love. We are absolutely worthy because we are your beloved children and you will never stop pursuing us with your love. Instead of believing Satan’s lies, help us to put our hope in your truth and to receive the abundant life that is your delight to give to us. Amen.
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