“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10 (NKJV)
“…I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Those words have been playing over and over in my head since we arrived in Romania 14 days ago. What does abundant life look like? What does that even mean?
The truth is, it was easier for me to see abundant life last month:
- It was the first month of an 11 month grand adventure.
- I saw God answer prayers in tangible ways by providing housing and contacts.
- I was independent in a foreign country and managing to live there very well.
- I was learning how to communicate with my team and the locals.
- I was building relationship with people in the community and knew what my purpose was.
I read this verse and I saw abundant life every day. I saw growth happening in me, in our team and in our ministry.
The abundance continued during debrief in Bucharest. I had a plethora of restaurants to choose from. I had a new city to explore. I got to go shopping. I got to visit with my friends and I got to be filled up with wonderful teachings and advice from our leaders. Life was good. It was obvious to see the abundance that comes from a life with Christ.
I then arrived in Dragenesti-Olt (a small town roughly 3 hours away from Bucharest) and I suddenly had a harder time seeing the abundant life Christ talks about. I found myself living in a house with 37 other people, sharing one room with 5 other girls and having a triple decker bunk as a bed (mine being on the very top). The sun has shined a total of 2 days since being here. There is a strong spiritual oppression over the city and my ministry this month is split between administrative tasks and teaching children in the After School Program. All combined, these things do not add up to the abundant life I had experience or expected.
I began feeling discouraged and complacent. Why should I put the effort into something that isn’t going to pay out anyway? I started to feel I might as well just coast through this month and lower my expectations as to what abundant life is so I don’t end up disappointed.
So, that’s what I did. I started becoming complacent with my team, my squad mates, my leadership and my ministry. I decided to just accept everything and not expect any more.
Then Jesus, in his majestic gentleness, whispered “…I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly.”
Then it hit me…. Abundant life does not come because of my efforts. Abundant life doesn’t come by what I do or don’t do. It doesn’t come by how I feel about things or what sort of adventure I experience on any given day. It doesn’t come because of the ministry I am doing or not doing. It doesn’t come because of my team or squad mates. It doesn’t come because of my leadership or my skills. Rather, abundant life comes through Jesus and overflows into everything else I do.
Abundant life comes from the maker of heaven and earth. The creator of all things. The giver of life. The one in whom I live, move and have my being. I could go on all the adventures I wanted, have all the friends I could ever need, lead hundreds of thousands of people, but without Jesus it would simply be things I do. It would never be as abundant as doing life WITH Jesus and allowing everything I do flow from him. It ultimately all comes down to Jesus receiving the glory and not me.
I’m going to be honest, so far Romania is not my favorite. However, it has been full and it has been abundant because of who Jesus is. Jesus came so we may have life and we may have life to the fullest. I for one am choosing to live in the security of that promise regardless of what I see or feel. I hope you choose to do the same.
