Really, It's Just a Fun Word To Say

John 10:10 is a familiar enough verse, neatly tucked at the end of Jesus' description of Himself as a shepherd, who keeps the gate of the sheepfold against "thieves and robbers."

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

There's a lot of confusion in our world about the meaning of that word: "Abundantly." Purveyors of the prosperity Gospel will tell you it means God wants to grant you health and wealth on earth, and to give you a comfortable life.  Of course, if we look at the rest of Scripture, we can pretty quickly rule that out. But what does it mean?

Some synonyms for "Abundant:"
copious, profuse, overflowing, plentiful, teeming, rich.

When Jesus talks about Life, most often, He is referring, not merely to our temporary bodies, but our entire selves. Our souls. He's not talking just about our brief time on this planet, but our eternities, starting right now. 

I have come to believe that an Abundant Life is one given up to the Will of God. It is a life filled, teeming, overflowing with the Love of our Savior. It is a life of service to God and His people. An abundant life is a life free from Sin, not given over to temptation, and filled with the joy that can only come by being called a Child of God.