Friday, December 24, 2010
Abundant Living!
"For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon Thee." Psalm 86:5
"...I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly." John 10:10(b)
"...for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you." 2 Peter 1:11
Christmas. The time of year where good cheer is proclaimed and we flock to church for the Christmas Eve candlelight services. It is also the time where shopping seems to prioritize our lives and readiness for the holidays is a constant activity. It seems a time of abundant living, but what did this time in Bethlehem, at the birth of the Man, Jesus Christ, mean to Israel and ultimately, humanity?
The Scriptures quoted above remind the reader of what we have in Christ Jesus, however I think something is lost over the years and often lost to the Gentile readers. The Israelites lived their lives in anticipation of their Messiah. They awaited His birth as fulfilling God's promise to them. God promised a Savior and a King. One who would fulfill God's Law 100% and to perfection. Following God and honoring Him would lead to abundant living and the faithful Israelite tried to do just this. Their failure was ever before them.
When Jesus started His public ministry, His cousin, John the Baptist, proclaimed to the people to make themselves ready for the Messiah.This was a time of repentance and a time to be ready to receive the Messiah. Those who received the Christ, received Him as the Good News. He was Good News to the Jews for He fulfilled the Law of God that they were unable to do on their own.
The Good News. This is the part of the message I think we lose over the years. If you are not Jewish or not a Jewish person who is following the God's Word, I don't think we understand fully what Christ did for us. He fulfilled the Law of God (think of the Ten Commandments to begin with) perfectly and fully all the days of His earthly life. This was an impossible feat by man, even though there were those who attempted to do this. The sacrifices offered at the Temple were not enough to cover all the sin that clung to them. Being born of Adam, by nature, they (and we) are with sin. I think the Israelites of the time of Scripture grasped this more fully than we do today.
Jesus came to fulfill all the prophecy of Messiah. Each prophecy was fulfilled and is fulfilled in Him. Jesus came as the Son of God and the Son of Man.
Jesus, the Son of Man, when He fulfilled His mission on earth, He willingly went to the cross and was crucified in our place. For without Him, we will die and face the consequence of living a life not honoring the Creator of life...God's wrath. There is a price to pay in this life..."for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23.
We can live this life rejecting God and get paid the "wages" of it which is death or we can receive the free gift of Christ Jesus and enjoy life in Him abundantly.We can have abundant life in Christ Jesus because Christ not only died in our place but He rose again from the dead and is not seated at the right hand of God. Our hope is in Him and His life.
This abundant living is not to say that life is without trouble. In fact our Lord promised us otherwise. He told us that those who belong to Him will also face what He faced while on this earth. But...that is for another time.
"And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:19
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