Eastertide
May 7, 2017
Scripture Reading: John 10:1-10
So again Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. –John 10:7-10
The Greek word translated abundantly here is perissos and means properly all-around, “more than” (“abundantly”); beyond what is anticipated, exceeding expectation; “more abundant,” going past the expected limit (“more than enough . . . “) *
The word/thought of abundance takes me back to Psalm 23:
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
I fear many perceive an abundant life as being blessed with material wealth, good health perhaps, and happiness. Some go so far as to judge other’s relationship with God based on such earthly measures. Somehow, I think Jesus is talking about overflowing love and joy not worldly riches and short term happiness as abundance. If God expects us to love God and others surely, God provides in excess the basic tools to do that. The human dilemma relates to the inability to receive or recognize the readily provided source gift of love because we are too caught up in seeking abundance in wrong places and always falling short of finding it.
An ageless retired couple, I am privileged to call friends, buys their clothing at thrift stores, and if they get a new TV for themselves they get one for someone else who needs one too. They just enjoy giving back from the abundance of love they have received from God over the decades of their lives. Their cup runs over all the time.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your gift of abundant love. Remove the blinders from our eyes that stops us from basking in your love. Amen.
*http://biblehub.com/greek/4053.htm