LIVING A RICH AND SATISFYING LIFE

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” – John 10:10 (ESV).

In John 10:10,  Jesus gives us the purpose of His coming to earth. He said it plainly. It wasn’t to judge. It wasn’t to condemn. It wasn’t to remind people of the rules or tell us we were sinning. It was to give us a rich and satisfying life. He says, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” The New Living Translation translates the word abundantly as a “rich and satisfying life.” The Message Bible says, “I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.” Jesus came so you and I can have eternal “life” and a life that is greater and better than we could imagine.

If God created us to live fulfilling lives, why do so many of us feel we are running on empty? Did we miss something in what He said because sometimes our life seems less than satisfying? And why does it seem like most of the time, religion hurts rather than helps the cause of a life fully lived? Though God created us to live rich and satisfying lives, they can only be completed by an intimate love relationship with Him. The Bible says that “…God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

God gave us many things to enjoy, but their ultimate purpose was never straightforward enjoyment or pleasure. The purpose was to point us towards Him. Without this relationship, every experience is limited to itself and will never satisfy its original purpose – to point us toward the Creator who imagined it. When we expect to live completely fulfilling lives without God, we expect something of life that it was never designed to give.

Living a rich and satisfying life is found only by putting your total trust in Jesus as your Lord and Savior – every day. We can live, move, and have an abundant life in Him. It is not enough to know about Jesus, but we need to know Him personally.

There will be detours. It’s unrealistic to think that any journey will be perfect without detours. If you think you will only live “A Rich and Satisfying Life” if you don’t face detours, the journey is over before it begins. Detours are a part of life and often some of the most memorable parts of any journey. Life’s detours will bring discoveries and growth. Those who reach their goals and destinations are those willing to navigate the unforeseen detours of life, difficulties, and problems. Living in pure joy regardless of circumstances, knowing God has a perfect plan for your life.

Persistence is key to enjoying and living the journey of “A Rich and Satisfying Life.” There may be days when you feel you have made giant leaps forward and days when you have taken a few steps backward. The journey isn’t over until you quit trying.

Discussion Questions:

1. Jesus says he Has come to bring us a rich and satisfying life (John 10:10). Where are you seeing Jesus’ goodness in your life? Where are you struggling to see God’s goodness?