An Abundantly Fulfilled Life

In one more week Heart to Heart Sunday School Class begins Bruce Wilkinson's “Secrets of the Vine”. I am excited to study Christ's last message to His disciplines right before His death. Jesus speaks of principles that lead to an abundant life in Him, and declares that He is the only way to discover such an overflowing life. “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly,” Jesus imparts in John 10:10. This is what we were born for–to live a surrendered life that overflows abundantly with His purpose.
 

Jesus offers abundant life for earth, and abundant life for eternity. This is the reason He came. To give His life for us! To give us life instead of death! To give us victory instead of defeat! To speak peace instead of turmoil! To bring rest in the midst of the storms of life! To use us for His glory! Jesus Christ came so that we may know overflowing life in Him, and produce an abundant harvest of faith not only in our lives, but in those of others. He sacrificed all He was for all the ugliness that we are. In His gift to us He becomes the vine that empowers. We are the branches. When the life of the vine flows into ours, we bring forth new growth! We flourish in His presence. Our being becomes one with His.

Being one with Him yields abundant fruit in your life! He is Love. Joy. Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control (Galatians 5:22-23). He is everything you cannot be alone. When you are one with Him, you lack nothing. His life flowing through your veins is all you need. Abide in Him, and look to Him, the author of your faith. “I am the Vine,” He says, “you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit” (John 15:5a, AMP). It is only in Christ that you can have the greatest love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It is only through Him that your life produces an abundant harvest. You must abide in Him, and allow Him to discipline and prune your life to bring forth His true worth. It is only then you will discover an overflowing and fulfilled life.