A Thrill of Hope - Week 5: Day 2

Life Abundant
 
Is the same Jesus that is with the Father, that lived and died about 2000 years ago, that is testified of in the New Testament…does that same Jesus live in you by the power of the Spirit?  What a remarkable thought.

Have you ever stopped to think that the “babe in the manger” grew up to be the “man on the cross,” so that you could be empowered for the world that you live in right now?
That is really what brings Christmas full circle for me. Jesus did all he did (of course to glorify the Father) but also that I may live life abundantly (John 10:10). That life starts now. It does not start when we enter his presence in heaven, it starts when He enters our life…now. We can live and live abundantly now if we live under the influence of Jesus.

So what does that have to do with now? What does that have to do with Christmas?  Everything. Why? Because that same Jesus of the New Testament, that did all of those extraordinary miracles, is the same Jesus that calls me to witness for Him. Yes, I said it, witness. I know what you’re thinking, that this is just another devotion on the importance of “going and telling” except it’s not. This is about being a witness, but not necessarily verbally. While that is good, I want you to consider something. Consider what Jesus says to the Jews living during His earthly ministry:


All the works (miracles) that Jesus did, have something in common that you may not have realized before. Every single one of them performed were done in and through people. So, the question we need to ask and answer for ourselves is, “is Jesus done with His work in and through His people?” Inevitably we will say no…we must say no. He is not finished.

In making that connection then, I wonder if it is safe to embrace the idea that Jesus is going to do powerful, supernatural things through me and for me that I cannot do for myself?  I do not mean that he is going to allow me to heal the lame, raise the dead or make the blind man see…again. He has already done and accomplished those things for the glory of the Father, and they already testify of Him, who He is, and what He is capable of.

But…if he is going to give me life more abundantly, then He is going to have to do something for me that I cannot do for myself! He has! That’s right, salvation by grace alone through faith alone. What a wonderful gift. But does it stop there? People that believe Jesus is no longer in the miracle making business may say yes, but I am not one of those dreary Christians. I am a Christian who not only believes Jesus is in the business of doing miracles in 2020 and beyond, but I have witnessed many of them. Certainly not all of them, but many, more than I can count.
 
So, what am I saying? What I am saying is that our abundant life begins when we accept Jesus into our lives, but it will not be fully experienced until we get fully surrendered to Jesus in our lives. It may not be a materialistic miracle or abundance, like money, wealth, or fame…but to all it will be immediately spiritual.

Hope, Peace, joy and love do not come when you acquire more, they come when you are surrendered more so that you can receive more so that He can do more in and through you. Part of witnessing to others is allowing others to see the work of Christ in and through you and as He does, He will testify of who both He and the Father and who they can be for everyone.
Going and telling is good, but how about just living more abundantly in and through Him so that your life and His work are evident to others. How can you do that?