Paulette’s apologies in her verbiage, the atomic number 79 means GOLD. The Greek Strong’s Concordance number 79 means sister! Confirming the value of sisterhood. https://biblehub.com/greek/79.htm
Revelation 21:21
Proverbs 16:16
Matthew 2:11
Matthew 7:12 Golden Rule
1 John 4:20-21
Abundance
By Dawn Box
John 10:10
What does it mean to live life to the fullest? What does that abundant life that Jesus came to give us look like? and how can we experience it?
Ezekiel 47:12 talks about a tree planted near the river where there is a constant flow of water – “Where their leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves for medicine.”
This is a picture of the abundant life offered to us when we receive forgiveness and life in Christ. But how can we experience and see the fruit of this in our life?
In Deut 30, God tells the Israelites they have a choice. He says, “…I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the LORD your God by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him..”
Choose “life” – that word comes from the Hebrew word “hay” which means “life combined with spiritual blessedness” (Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon) or Abundant Life. So we see here that abundant life can be ours when we first, love God, then obey His voice, and hold fast to Him. (BE:DO)
If obedience were only as easy as a one time decision and not a continual lifestyle…. Obedience can be difficult (the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak), but obedience is what God uses to strengthen you, keep you in relationship with Him, and bring glory to His name. It also causes Him to “rejoice over you.” (Deut 30:9).
The reward of your obedience will not only build your faith, but continued obedience will bring authority; authority opens the door to opportunity which opens the door to that abundant life.
Obedience doesn’t just bring the reward of accomplishing that one thing, but is multifaceted allowing God to move in all areas and people around you. I think of the boy’s obedience when he gave his 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes that ended up becoming part of Jesus’s miracle in feeding the 5,000. And what about his mother (perhaps) – if she hadn’t been obedient in her daily task of making bread that day? or in getting up that day to pack her son a lunch (perhaps)?- Her small act of obedience would have made way for the miracle as well. We don’t know what happened to that boy, but I can only imagine that after he tasted the goodness of the Lord that day, he was never the same. We also don’t know the multiple affects our one act of obedience brings, but we can count on this: obedience works in us and through us for our good and His Glory.
In Deuteronomy 30:13-14 God says, (this) “is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach. But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it.” Thankfully, He has given us His Holy Spirit to guide and lead us into all Truth. So as we concentrate on loving Him first by obeying His commands and staying close to him, that abundant life will be ours to live both now and for all eternity.
Application:
As we conclude our week of fasting and prayer, take some time to mediate on the Love of God. Tell Him all the things you love about Him, and ask Him to show you more of His love by pouring it through you to those around you.
Ask God what you have not been obedient in, then ask His forgiveness and how He would have you move forward.
Finally, hold fast to Him by staying in His Word. If you do not already have a Bible reading plan or study you are involved in, I invite you to join our co-ed group reading through the Bible with the Bible Recap at the link below.
May our Great God bless you, and keep you; make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace – in Jesus name!
