Jesus Is All We Need: 10 Devotions to Experience the Rescuing Love of GodSample

God is Joy

"The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life." JOHN 10:10 NLT

When we put our faith in Jesus, our ultimate, eternal home awaits us in heaven. That's a fact we can count on.

At the same time, Jesus promises us a rich life - rich in grace, love, and godly experiences, not in cash - here and now.

Following Jesus does not mean committing ourselves to a boring life while we wait for the awesomeness of heaven. Jesus didn't save us in order to crush our human spark and potential. The exact opposite is true. Jesus expects us to live a full, attractive life under the favor and blessing of God the Father and with the inspiration of God's Holy Spirit. (And when I say "attractive", I don't mean we need to be attractive. We're supposed to live lives that make others want what we've got... which is Jesus!)

Think of it like this. You finally go on that vacation you've been looking forward to forever. It's an entire week on a tropical beach, with nothing to do but read a romance novel and soak in the sun. Or maybe you're more adventurous and prefer zip-lining or cave-tubing. Whatever your vacation looks like, on the last full day in paradise, you're still having a good time, right? The food is still all-you-can-eat, the poolside chair is still comfy, and you're still snapping photos of the scenery.

If you're anything like me, though, there's a thought in the back of your mind. All this is ending tomorrow. I'll be going back to real life. I guess it's human nature to remind ourselves to enjoy something when we know it's coming to an end. With eternal life in Jesus, though, there is no ending to the paradise - every day is the first day! And on this side of heaven, we can face every day with joy and expectation in our hearts. That can be hard or even seem impossible, especially when we're experiencing pain. But while our days on earth can be difficult, Jesus's purpose is to give us a life here worth really living.

And that's the kind of life that will introduce others to Jesus as well.

Takeaway: Jesus gives you an abundant life that can't be stolen from you.

Prayer: God, thank You for adding the flavor and richness to my life that can only come from my faith in Jesus. Please don't let anything or anybody get in my way of experiencing Your joy. My hope is in You.