Meditation Archives

August 30, 2003

LIVING MORE ABUNDANTLY, part II

"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10, NKJV).

God and Jesus have given us the formula for a successful life here and now and for the hereafter.

Things God has encouraged us to do to be successful and to maintain happy relationships:

1. Believe in Jesus whom God sent. "They said to Him, 'What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?' Jesus answered and said to them, 'This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent' " (John 6:28, 29).
2. We are to learn to love the Lord for all that He does for us. "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment." "We love Him because He first loved us" (Matthew 22:37, 38; 1 John 4:19). This is the principle that governs the first four Commandments.
3. We are to learn to love our neighbors as we love ourself. "And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 22:39, 40). This is the principle that governs the last six Commandments.
4. We are to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy (the fourth Commandment, Exodus 20:8-11). The Sabbath is a memorial to creation and given for our benefit and blessing. It's a weekly holiday from work and given to build relationships with God and man.
5. We are to honor our parents (the fifth Commandment, Exodus 20:12).
6. We are to return to the Lord that which He claims as His, the tithe (Malachi 3:8-10).

Things that He has asked us not to do that hinder our success and relationships:

1. We are not to have other gods or supreme interests that take the rightful place of God in our lives (the first Commandment, Exodus 20:2, 3).
2. We are not to make or purchase images in the likeness of anything that God has created nor bow down to them or worship them (the second Commandment, Exodus 20:4-6).
3. We are not to take the name of the Lord in vain (the third Commandment, Exodus 20:7).
4. We are not to commit murder (the sixth Commandment, Exodus 20:13).
5. We are not to commit adultery (the seventh Commandment, Exodus 20:14).
6. We are not to steal from anyone (the eight Commandment, Exodus 20:15).
7. We are not to lie or bear false witness against anyone (the ninth Commandment, Exodus 20:16)
8. We are not to covet anything that belongs to someone else (the tenth Commandment, Exodus 20:17).

Basically, there are just two principles to live by, numbers 2 and 3 in the first list, loving God supremely and our neighbor as ourself. All the rest is just a fulfillment of these two principles. If everyone lived according to these two principles, what a different world this would be.

When we realize all that God has done for us, we can not help but return that love which He has shared with us. After all, all that He has asked of us is for our own benefit and blessing. When we treat others as Jesus and God have treated us, we will be making friends for God, and for eternity!

To be continued-