LIVING AN ENRICHED LIFE PROMISED TO THOSE WHO LOVE THE LORD

BIBLE GATEWAY:
Before long, the world will not see me anymore, 
but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.
(John 14:19)

MEDITATION:
Jesus told His disciples that there would soon be a time 
when the world would not see Him anymore, but they would still see Him.
Not only would they see Him, but their lives would be enriched by His presence.
Why would they see Him even when others would not?
Because they would remain connected to Him 
when He was no longer with them physically.

How did they (and how do we) stay connected with Him?
What should we be doing?
We should do the works that He did when He walked the earth in human form.
Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been 
doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going 
to the Father. (John 14:12)

We should show our love for Him by obeying His commands.
“If you love me, keep my commands.” (John14:15)
Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. (John 14:21a)
Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. (John 14:23a)
Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. (John 14:24a)
 
How are our lives enriched when we ‘do His works’, 
‘love Him’, and ‘obey His commands’?
He will hear and respond to our prayers.
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be 
glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I 
will do it. (John 14:13-14)

Of course this doesn’t mean our prayers will be for selfish gain.
When we are ‘connected’ to Him, our prayers will be aligned with His Will,
and those are the requests He will answer.
The challenge for us when we pray, is to look at things from His perspective, 
and to accept His timetable and methods for answering our prayers.
 
We are also enriched by the presence of the Holy Spirit living within us.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help 
you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept 
him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he 
lives with you and will be in you. (John 14:16-17)

When the Holy Spirit flourishes within us, our eyes and minds 
are opened to new discoveries of the Lord and the Father.
On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, 
and you are in me, and I am in you. (John 14:20)
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, 
will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said 
to you. (John 14:26)

When we remain connected to the Lord, 
we will be loved and feel the presence of both the Father and the Son.
The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, 
and I too will love them and show myself to them.” (John 14:21b)
My Father will love them, 
and we will come to them and make our home with them. (John 14:23b)

Being connected with the Lord means we can enjoy 
a new kind of peace like we have never experienced before.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world 
gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)

ACTION:
There are many ‘lazy Christians’ who want just enough of the Lord to avoid Hell,
but they lack total commitment to Him and, as a result, 
they fail to enjoy living enriched lives on earth.
Christ gave us the guidelines for receiving His blessings, 
but it is up to us to totally surrender to Him.

In the busy world we live in, Satan can easily convince us 
that we do not have time for adding anything else to our lives, but 
we are assured by the Lord that what He asks of us is not burdensome at all.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in 
heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and 
my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29-30)

As an example, 
He tells us to “return” what belongs to the Father with our tithes.
However, many Christians cling to what belongs to Him, which shows 
(1) they don’t trust Him to provide, 
and (2) their love for Him is weak at best.
We decided to trust Him and began tithing on our net, and later on our gross pay.

Later the Lord convicted us to give above our tithe 
and in less than a twelve month period my salary 
was increased by 10%, followed by 15%, and another 11%.
Over 36% (compounded) in one year! 
God blesses us when we obey His commands.

When we were convicted to give more than a tithe, 
it was not ‘throwing down the gauntlet’ to see if God would bless us, 
but it was simply a response to what we felt He wanted us to do.
It was also a challenge for us to show our trust in, and our love for Him.

How ‘connected’ to the Lord is your life?
What ‘things’ are preventing you from connecting to Him?
How has Satan convinced you to justify doing things your own way,
instead of being obedient to the Lord?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, for way too long I have failed to respond to Your 
guidelines for living a life connected to You. I have been living a life 
of selfishness that has created problems for me and prevented me from 
living the enriched life promised to those who show their love for You 
through obedience to Your commands. Help me to respond to the things 
You ask of me in the way I should. Forgive me for failing to trust You
and believing in Your promises. Show me how to live a life under the
guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit You have given me.”

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