Zondervan Blog

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Why Does Jesus Give"Life to the Full"? [Excerpt by John Ortberg] Posted: 04 May 2012 07:43 AM PDT   Jesus gives us life — so, what do we do with it? John Ortberg reflects in this excerpt from The Me I Want to Be: Becoming God's Best Version of You.   John Ortberg Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" [John 10:10]. We may have heard that without understanding what Jesus offers. When he says he has come to "give life," what exactly does he mean?   We all feel that we know what life is when we see it, but life turns out to be surprisingly tricky to define. So we might start here: Life is the inner power to make something happen.   Throw a rock, and it soon stops moving. But put a seed in the ground, and something happens — it sends out a root, takes in nourishment, and grows up to be fruitful. To be spiritually alive means to receive power from God to have a positive impact on your world.   What are some ways God gives life and vitality to you? How can you build these into your life and schedule? Nature Spiritual friendships Worship Solitude Serving Study Learning Art Rest Celebration Scripture Recreation Exercise Family Long talks Laughter Leading a cause Retreat Small group Other   Saint Irenaeus wrote, "The glory of God is a human being fully alive; and to be alive consists in beholding God" ... Your flourishing is never just about you. It is a "so that" kind of condition. God designed you to flourish "so that" you could be part of his redemptive project in ways that you otherwise could not. He wants you to flourish "so that" people can be encouraged, gardens can be planted, music can be written, sick people can be helped, or companies can thrive in ways they otherwise would not. When you fail to become the person God designed, all the rest of us miss out on the gift you were made to give.   Jesus once said that with God, all things are possible, and the great thing about life with God is that your next step is always possible. That step toward God is always waiting, no matter what you have done or how you have messed up your life. -John Ortberg   Learn More Learn more about John Ortberg's book, The Me I Want to Be. Follow John Ortberg on Twitter: @johnortberg.   Suggested Posts Looking for a Few Difficult Men and Women via John Ortberg What Helps YOU Grow? via John Ortberg   (Some styling above is a web-exclusive feature not included in the text of The Me I Want to Be. This post does not represent the views of Zondervan or any of its representatives. The writer's personal opinions are shared only for information purposes. To receive new Zondervan Blog posts in your reader or email inbox, subscribe to Zondervan Blog.)

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