The Thief Comes Only To Kill, Steal, & Destroy, I Have Come That They May Have Life, & Have It To The Full
Jesus Is The Good Shepherd
JOHN 10:10
“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.
”John 10:10 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/jhn.10.10.NKJ
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Satan's purpose is to steal, and kill, and to destroy your lives, your peace, your finances, your relationships, your children, and yes, he wants to cause you as much pain as he possibly can and ultimately drag into hell where he can abuse you forever.
He hasn't got a conscience and he doesn't care how he does that.
He is full of hate; he hates even those who follow him. He will do absolutely everything he can to stop us serving God and sharing the Good News; in deed he becomes very angry with those who successfully serve God.
“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.”
I Peter 4:12-14 NKJV
In contrast to the thief who takes life, Jesus gives life. The life Jesus gives is rich and full, it is eternal and begins immediately one gives His life to Christ.
Life in Christ is lived on a higher plane because of His overflowing forgiveness, love and guidance.
Living in Christ doesn't mean life is instantly perfect, you are going to have trials and challenges; Satan will see to that, he will attack you in any which way he can with little lying whispers that are aimed at your emotions, that you believe the lie. He will bring every trial challenge he can muster up.
But James said, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
James 1:2-4 NKJV
It is through your trials and testings that God teaches and moulds us into the Christ like people He created us to be (ROMANS 12:1-2).
The devil will throw everything he has at you, but because of God's love, patience, power, and abilities, together with His total authority over heaven and earth (MATHEW 28:18-20), you can depend on Him, knowing that He is in control, and He always makes a righteous way (1 CORINTHIANS 10:13), thus, by trusting God, you have peace of mind, joy and contentment in this life, and in your heart, you know the best is yet to come.
We believers have a perfect future, a future well worth waiting for; all our suffering will be gone forever. “And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.””
Revelation 21:3-4 NKJV
Therefore my beloved, ““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV
We can put our trust in Jesus, for He is the good shepherd and we are His sheep.
He said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 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. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.””
John 10:7-18 NKJV
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
