Today’s devotion comes from John 10:10.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10.
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We eagerly meditate with joy on some of the different ways that Christ has come so that we “may have life, and have it abundantly.”
Above all, Christ gives us eternal life.
“For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:40.
“even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life.” John 17:2.
Christ gives us His Spirit which gives us spiritual life even while we are on earth waiting for eternal life in heaven.
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.” John 6:63.
“If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.” Romans 8:10.
“For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:17-21.
Christ’s Spirit gives life to our mortal bodies.
“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:11.
Christ’s Spirit gives us life, liberty, and glory. See 2 Corinthians chapter 3 of which I only quote the following 2 verses.
“… the Spirit gives life.” 2 Corinthians 3:6.
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:17-18.
Christ gives us life expressed in the glory and unity and love between members of His body, the true church.
“The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.” John 17:22-23.
Christ gives us life filled with His love, so that “the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me”.
“For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.” Galatians 2:19-21.
Psalm chapter 32 is a fitting summary and conclusion to cause us to meditate on the detail of the blessings of life that Christ as the Good Shepherd gives us.
“The LORD is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm chapter 23.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 