Life Beyond the Comma

Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Let’s look at that closely, “I have come that you might have life, (comma) and that you might have it more abundantly.” He wants to enable us to live beyond the “comma.” 

Some Christians tend to envy people that are living “the good life” and missing the abundant life. Some have even bought into the “prosperity gospel” without embodying abundant life. In reality the prosperity gospel and people who are living the good life have been detracted from abundant life. The truth is one can enjoy abundant life without having the good life or the fulfillment promised by the prosperity gospel. Abundant life has nothing to do with the amount of “stuff”one has. It has everything to do with a personal life with Jesus Christ and the provision of eternal life He enables.

Living beyond the comma involves:

Enjoyment, not just existence.

Beyond the comma life is vastly bigger, braver, and nobler once we become adherent followers of Christ. 

Relationship, not just reformation.

Life beyond the comma, which Christ called “abundant life,” means wrestling with powers and principalities and mastering them through the power of Jesus Christ. It isn’t a tame colorless round of trivialities.

Abundant life means to be full of moral energy that throws off temptation like a healthy body throws off disease germs. Life beyond the comma is —–

Fellowship, not just friendship.

This PLUS living is living with another. That one is Christ. 

Psychologists say human beings have three desires: the longing to be accepted, approved, and appreciated.

We are created in the image of God, that is, His likeness. This means God likes to be accepted, approved, and appreciated. Provide Him such, and He will provide you the same.

Life beyond involves devotion, not just duty.

Duty may produce diligence, but devotion produces dynamism. 

Life beyond the comma, that is, abundant life, is life beyond the cross.

A relationship with Christ is intended to produce people who are richly alive, ablaze with an inward fire which ignites real living. To live the abundant life seek first the kingdom of God, that is, it is found not in things, but obedience

The big thing about the abundant life is you gain things that eye has not seen and ear has not heard, which have not entered into the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him. (1 Cor. 2:9).