9 I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Reflection
I don’t think I was built for the age of social media. Though I stand up in the pulpit every week, the truth is that even after 20 years, I still don’t always feel super comfortable in front of people. I’m reminded of this every morning during Lent when Kate and I share in the Facebook Live devotional. This unscripted format was something I really needed to be talked into last year. It just doesn’t come naturally. Thank God for Kate, who encourages me to say yes to things, even when they seem a little difficult.
Part of it is that I don’t ever assume that just because I’m a pastor I necessarily have something of value to say. I take seriously the task of getting ready day by day and week by week. I never want to fill a place with empty words. I don’t “wing it” unless I absolutely have no choice. I’ve been in any number of situations where someone will say to me, “we’re delayed a little bit…can you vamp for a few moments while we sort things out?” The answer is, “No, I really can’t.” Awkwardness generally ensues.
All of us have certain fears and insecurities that keep us from living into our full potential. All of us hesitate and hold back sometimes. Is there a feeling or sensation you get when that’s happening for you? For me, it feels like tightness in my chest. It could be a smile that I’m forcing a little bit, or at the extreme the sense that I can’t quite catch my breath.
When we feel these things that are holding us back from being free and confident in who we are and what we have to offer, let’s come back to this verse: “I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly.”
by Joe Monahan
For Pondering and Prayer
Is there something you REALLY have wanted to do, but have felt a little insecure about saying yes? Today, reflect on John 10:10 and trust that what Jesus wants for you is a full and abundant life. Today, trust that you are being called to choose faith over fear!
Prayer: Loving God, You call us to a life that is full and abundant, yet so often we hold back. We are hesitant, uncertain, bound by the fears that whisper we are not enough. In those moments of doubt, remind us that you are our source of life, our courage, and our strength. Thank you for the people who encourage us to say “yes” when we would rather stay in the background, and for the ways your Spirit gently nudges us toward growth. Help us to trust that what we bring is enough, because YOU are the source of all we are. May we step forward in faith, knowing that abundant life in Jesus is not about perfection, but about our willingness to keep showing up and saying “yes.” In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
