Day One

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it life to the full.” (John 10:10)
This may not be a new verse to you but I want to break it apart for you and hopefully open your eyes. You can not fight an enemy unless you know his tactics. Thanks to my favorite devotional as always, Sparkling Gems from the Greek, by Rick Renner, for helping me understand this better.
The word thief in the Greek is klepto which means obviously to steal. The picture that it paints is of a thief who is so artful in the way he steals that his exploits of thievery are nearly undetectable.
Jesus wants us to know that the devil is cunning. Satan knows that if he is obvious his actions will be recognized. I hate it when he has taken my joy or my peace and I haven’t even realized it until it was gone!
The next interesting word (and this is what struck me the most) is “to kill” which you think means to take someone’s life right? Actually no, the word is thuo, which means to sacrifice something that is precious and dear. Ugh. What Jesus is saying is that if the enemy can’t outright steal it from us, he will then try to tell us we need to sacrifice or give up what is or was precious to us. He doesn’t want you to have a blessing. He will create daily stressful situations to cause you to conclude that you must sacrifice what you really love. Think your marriage, your relationships with your children, your home, your peace, your contentment. I hope I am not the only one that is smacked in the head by that.
As if those two things weren’t bad enough, Jesus went on to say the thief also comes “to destroy” or apollumi-something that is ruined, wasted, trashed. So if the thief can’t take it, or convince you to sacrifice it then he will try to ruin it.
So since I believe I need to be vigilant for Satan’s schemes, I also do not want to give him too much press so I am going to devote more words (I will know because I did a word count) and time to the Good News.
Jesus went on to say, “…I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” The words “that they may have” means to continually possess. Not talking about a full life on Sundays, or good days or great hair days. No, continually possess. The life Jesus is giving is zoe. This is a life that is filled with vitality. And “to the full” or “abundant” depending on the version you are reading is periossos which is beyond what is regular, extraordinary, exceeding, super-abundance! So Jesus is saying
“I have come that they might have, keep and constantly retain a vitality, gusto, vigor and zest for living that springs up from deep down inside. I came that they might embrace this unrivaled, unequaled, matchless, incomparable, richly loaded and overflowing life to the ultimate maximum.”
In this life we will struggle and Satan will push your buttons. He will try to get you off track or cause you to cast your dreams to the side. When this happens you tell him to shut up and hit the road. Usually it’s not nice to say shut up but in this case it is necessary. You can let him know you are on to his games and you are not going to bite any more because you are choosing Jesus and the life and love He has for you. You are not a sucker for this anymore! You have Jesus in you and that is the only Power you need to draw from to face this once and for all. You are not on your own.
Don’t let anything be stolen, don’t give up what matters most to you because you think that will make things better and don’t roll over and let the enemy of your soul destroy what is precious to you. Receive the abundant life!
Father, I pray for courage for these women. I pray that through Your word they will see how they can and will fight a Holy fight. Open their eyes to Your presence around them. Give them discernment to see the enemy’s ways and above all give them a victory and abundant life that only comes from you. You are the Most High. Amen.