Promises, promises

28/8
John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

We have all heard the phrase, “living live to the full”; but so often such a life seems to allude so many of us.

This lovely phrase, found only in John's gospel, that Jesus 'has come so that we might have life and have it to the full', is very attractive. We have here a picture of total freedom, together with total security; really, a New Testament version of Psalm 23, where the sheep wants for absolutely nothing, and who is followed, for its whole life, by goodness and mercy.

Too often people think about their “spiritual lives” as just one more aspect of their existence, alongside and largely separate from their “financial lives” or their “vocational lives.”  Periodically they may try to “get their spiritual lives together” by praying more regularly or trying to master another spiritual discipline.  It is the religious equivalent of going on a diet or trying to stick to a budget.

The truth is that the term spiritual life is simply a way of referring to one’s life – every moment and facet of it – from God’s perspective.  Another way of saying it is this: God is not interested in your “spiritual life.”  God is just interested in your life.  He intends to redeem it.

Jesus talks a lot about giving life and about the fullness of life. It's not just for hereafter. Eternal life is our faith in him, and in his word. His call is to be life-givers - to facilitate the full life of compassion, justice, reconciliation and peace. We are called to be ministers of life, serving the God who loves all life.

Merciful God, 

who is more than we can ever imagine, 

give us a wider vision of the world; 

give us a broader view of justice; 

give us dreams of peace 

that are not defined by boundaries of geography

or race or religion, 

or by the limitations of worldly structures and systems. 

Open our eyes and our ears

that wherever we go, 

we may hear your voice calling us by name; 

calling us to serve, 

calling us to share, 

calling us to praise, 

so that we never give up on the promise of your kingdom, 

where the world is transformed, 

and all can enjoy life in all its fullness. 

Amen.