KEYS TO ABUNDANT LIFE

(John 10:10) "I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly."

Computers are one of the fastest developing technologies. There is a computer that operates so fast it can store five million words each second. In other words, it could store the Bible six times every second. Yet, in spite of all its capability, it has no spiritual comprehension. Do you know you could spend a lifetime investigating the scripture without knowing the power, riches or purpose of God for your life? A correct understanding of God's plan involves His Son Jesus Christ. Here are four keys to understanding God and the path to abundant life.

Fellowship or companionship with Jesus is following Him as our light in the darkness, our Guide, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Some say live life for your own self-gratification, make money your goal, get possessions, seek things! Others say, pleasure is the key, alcohol, sex, drugs. How can we know the Bible plan is the right one? Just look at the lives ruined by the pursuit of self-gratification. Jesus says, follow Me. Jesus is the Creator of life and He knows the way to live it to the fullest. I've never met a real Christian who was sorry they placed their trust in Jesus Christ.

Have you ever started a project and never finished it? Was there any satisfaction in half-finished work? Developing a meaningful relationship with Jesus requires commitment. Jesus will never leave you. What about you? Are you continuing with Jesus? Those who commit themselves to Him will find He is worth the effort. Jesus gives us purpose in life and a hope of that which is to come.

Here Jesus reveals an important key in our relationship to Him - confidence. Confidence is a relationship of trust. An optimist is said to be; One who finds opportunity in every difficulty. A pessimist as; One who finds difficulty in every opportunity. Which category are you in? Jesus says, trust Me. We can put our confidence in Him. He has our best interest at heart. We can trust our present and our future to a never changing God.

Having the mind of Jesus is not intellectual (which is impossible) but volitional. Jesus was willing to give all He had to the Father including His life. How willing are we to conform to His example? The mind of Christ is a mind of obedience. It places God first, others next and self last. Jesus says turn your life over to Him and He will show you the key to satisfying life. "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." (Mat 16:25)

A lady went shopping for groceries. When she came home she realized she had left her key inside the house. She didn't want her groceries to spoil so she began running through the neighborhood, borrowing keys from as many neighbors as she could. None of the keys fit. Then, one of the neighbors tried the doorknob and found the door had been open all the time. Jesus has opened the door to abundant life for us. He Himself is the key. Are you enjoying the abundant life? You can. Today let your companionship, commitment, confidence and conformity be centered in the Lord Jesus Christ. God bless.