Greetings in the name of the Wonderful Counselor, our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of Him, it is the most wonderful time of the year. However, as Christians, we should see it as the Christmas movie classic title, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
Thanks to Jesus, our life is wonderful and has been made eternal. It is not only an eternal life but an abundant life now! That life began when you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. At that moment, all things were made new (2 Cor. 5:17). Your spirit was born again! Just as when Jesus was born into the earth as the second Adam, mankind has been given an opportunity to walk in what the first Adam had before the fall, and even better!
Adam and Eve had an abundant life with total peace before their fall. (In the Greek, the word peace means nothing missing, nothing lacking, and fullness.) After the fall, their lives became as ours today: hard work and toiling on the earth during our existence (Gen. 3:19). We seem to have concerns and troubles about life, and are faced with decisions that have to be made daily, big and small.
Well, if all this changed with Jesus, why aren’t we walking in the pre-fall abundant life? If all things were made new, then why don’t I see them? Where is my peace? The answer is that we have the opportunity to walk in the abundant life. Jesus says, “…I am come that they mighthave life, and that they mighthave it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
The word might indicates that this God-like life is conditional, and some of us don’t like to strive to meet all the conditions. Remember the Wonderful Counselor? How many of us walk with Him, and to what extent? How much counsel do we receive? In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had to tend the garden (Gen. 2:15). There were actions (or work) that had to be done; however, this work was not hard. They did not toil, have stress, or even break out in a sweat.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
—Matthew 11:28-30
To enjoy this provision of abundant life, we must spend time with the Counselor. Just as they walked with the Father every day in the cool, we must walk with the Son. The measure of abundant life we have depends totally on how close we walk with the Word of God (Jesus) and His Spirit. His counsel is what we should seek, and we find it in His Word by His Spirit.
When we walk closely with the Word and Spirit, we will know what to do in every situation. It won’t be stressful because we will have peace knowing it is what the Creator and Author of our lives has said to do. We don’t have to sweat the issues of life. Praise God!
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
—Proverbs 4:20-23
When your spirit was born again, all things were made new. However, just because something is new doesn’t mean you know how to operate it. Most of the time you will need a teacher and an operator’s manual. If not, you will have to learn everything by trial and error. That’s what so many Christians do; they learn by the trials and errors they make in their lives—if they learn anything at all!
Also, being born again denotes that your new spirit is just a baby. Babies have to grow and be taught how to maneuver; they have to be nurtured—helped along if you will. This is why we need the Body of Christ, the Church, with its apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. It’s why the local Church Body is so important to new and old believers alike.
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying [growing up]of the body of Christ.
—Ephesians 4:11-12
As we grow up spiritually, we grow more into the image of Jesus—we enjoy the abundant life in which He only knows how to walk. That life is the gift of salvation and all it entails. This Christmas, think about the great and wonderful gift the Heavenly Father has given you. Have you learned all there is to know about your gift? Have you taken advantage of all the benefits of your gift? If not, I pray you will start right now.
Michelle and I are so blessed to have you as friends and partners. It brings us great joy to hear from you and receive your prayers and offerings. Because of you, we are able to do things for others that you may never know about on this side of heaven; however, when you get there, behold your crown
We pray you have a wonderful Christmas season with all the health, healing, wholeness, prosperity and riches that heaven provides. Because when you do, out of your abundance you’ll be able to give and do for others in the name of Christ Jesus.
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