Who is abundant life for?

“… I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10.10

Who is this abundant life for?  Deep down do you ever wonder if God has favourites?  Are there some who go the extra mile for him, give more to him and who live holier lives so are more highly favoured than the rest of us?  Surely he wants to give them abundant life more than the rest of us?

Such thinking is actually to totally miss the point of who Jesus is and why he came. The Bible speaks of him coming as a Saviour – not as a ‘Rewarder’.  He specifically says in John 12.47, “For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.”  He is not looking around to see who deserves his touch, but rather he is looking for who needs it.

Imagine the scene as Jesus spoke about coming to bring abundant life.  Was he looking at one or two really holy individuals as he spoke, or did he sweep his hand over the entire crowd – the good as well as the not so good, the deeply religious as well as the not so deeply religious?  If he came as a Saviour and helper, then he came looking for those who really needed his help and salvation, not those who could manage all by themselves.

Jesus came for you.  He sees your life and knows the things you lack – and he wants to bring you abundant life.

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