ABUNDANT LIVING

One missionary who worked in the island nation of Haiti for many years put his finger on the distinction between life and the sad absence of significance. He was talking with a visiting pastor about his agricultural school and vocational training ministry. “You are doing a great work by helping people survive in these difficult circumstances,” the pastor observed.

“Survive?” the missionary responded with a wry smile. “Why, it doesn’t take anything to survive. The challenge of the gospel is to teach people how to thrive!”

Jesus’ ministry was -- and is -- all about the difference between scraping out an existence and living in the fullness that is always God’s intention. “I came that they may have life, “Jesus said, “and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)

-- Derek Maul in “Get Real: A Spiritual Journey for Men”


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