WEDNESDAY 18 JANUARY - WHAT ABUNDANCE REALLY MEANS

Read John 10:1-10. It’s pantomime season. Some pantos include a genie, a mythical person who grants their master or mistress’s every wish.

Some people mistakenly believe that when Jesus promises “real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of” (John 10:10 MSG) that the Christian life will be an easy one. All we have to do is click our fingers, or rub the lamp, and Jesus will come running, ready to serve our every whim. But the life that is better than we have ever dreamed of doesn’t mean a comfortable lifestyle, perfect health, the perfect job, instant relief from problems and constant happiness.

Earth is not heaven. God is planning heaven for you in eternity. In the meantime, we will inevitably face difficulties in our lives. That’s how God grows and strengthens our character so we are ready for eternal heaven. If you need to grow more love in your heart, God will send someone unlovable to help you. If you need more patience, then God has an endless supply of circumstances that make you feel impatient! God wants to help grow your character, so you become more like his Son, Jesus Christ.

If you ever wonder, “why is this happening to me?” then the answer might be that God is using your circumstances to help you grow towards that more and better life you’ve never even dreamed of.

THINK IT OVER

Think about the following:

How does God’s character development help you gain perspective on the difficulties you face?