It feels like yesterday that I
wrote the message for Christmas 2017! I don't know about you, but
time flies. And that made me think today. What are we doing with
our time? Are we busy with things that have everlasting value? Are
we busy with Kingdom work even if we are in the boardroom, or at
home with the kids? Do we have that mindset? Or are we simply going
through the motions living from holiday to holiday, from one
pleasurable moment to the next and everything in between is just
bearable?
God tells us clearly why He sent
Jesus:
"For the bread of God is He who
comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." John
6:33
Jesus is our bread. In other words
He sustains us. We don't need all the things that the media tells
us we need. No, we need Him and only Him. If He is all we have left
we have enough, in fact we have more than enough. He walks in front
and we only need to follow!!
And He came to give us life. But
what does it mean? That He came to give us access into eternal life
someday? Or does it actually mean we can have the fullness of life
today? Let us have a look at the Greek meaning of the word
'life'.
It means Zoe in Greek. And the true
meaning of the word Zoe in this context is the following according
to Thayer Lexicon:
"life real and
genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God,
blessed, the portion even in this world of those who put their
trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by
new accessions (among them a more perfect body), and to last
forever"
Wow. Life - real, genuine, active,
vigorous, devoted to God, blessed. And did you notice the part
where it says that this portion is even in this world, in other
words in the here and now. Isn't that wonderful news? Jesus came to
give this life to us, in order for us to live it NOW. He came so
that we can have a blessed life that is not fake, that comes from a
heart that is active, dynamic and devoted to God. That is what He
came to give to us.
And notice the ongoing tense in
this text verse. He gives life and continuous to give life. He
never stops. It is a gift, one that is freely given to you. The
question now is; are you going to take it? Are you going to take
the step and physically take this gift? A gift is a gift, it is not
forced on you and it is not imposed upon you. No, a gift is given
freely, but it needs to be taken as well. What is your choice
today?
Do you want to continue in the
rushed spiral that you are? Do you want to continue living a life
that is fleeting and without true meaning? Or do you want to take
the next step forward and live a life of abundance? Jesus is
standing with the gift in His hands. Picture Him in your minds' eye
and see how He is presenting it to you. See yourself walking up to
Him and taking it out of His hands with thanksgiving. See how you
swallow this gift and make it a part of your essence. See how you
start to glow and become radiant. See how it infiltrates your
deepest being. See how it lifts you up unto new heights. See life
as it truly is, a journey walked with God. See His abundant grace
and glorify Him for it!
"I have come that they may have
life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John
10:10
Father, we rejoice that You sent
Jesus as the bread of life, to feed us and to nurture us in all our
ways. We are so grateful for the precious gift of life that He came
to give us through You. We rejoice and we take this gift! Thank you
very much dear Father. You are infinitely special to us. Amen