September 4 Devotional Meditation
By Dr Patrick Elijah Anyomi
Key Text: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life [zoe] and have it abundantly." (John 10:10)
Devotional Meditation:
In this powerful verse, Jesus draws a stark contrast between two opposing forces and their missions. The "thief" (representing the devil, sin, and all that opposes God) has a singular, destructive purpose: to steal our joy, kill our hope, and destroy our relationship with God. His work always leads to loss, emptiness, and death.
But Jesus declares His mission with equal clarity: "I came." He is intentional. His purpose is to give. And what He gives is not a mere improvement of our old existence, but something entirely new and transformative: zoe.
Zoe is the very life of God—the uncreated, eternal, and powerful life that Jesus Himself shares with the Father. It is not just life in length (eternal), but life in depth and quality (abundant). This is the profound blessing for the saved believer: we do not just receive a ticket to heaven; we receive the very life of heaven into our spirits now.
The "abundantly" Jesus promises means this zoe life is superabundant, exceeding necessity, overflowing its limits. This abundant zoe is not a future reward for elite Christians; it is the present possession of every believer.
The thief's aim is to convince us this life isn't real or to steal our experience of it through sin, distraction, or unbelief. But Jesus, the Good Shepherd, secures this life for us and in us. He is not just the giver of life; He is the life (John 14:6). Our abundance is found in intimately knowing and trusting the Shepherd Himself.
Time of Prayer:
Lord Jesus, my Good Shepherd, I thank you for your clear and powerful mission. Thank you that you came not to condemn, but to rescue and to give.
I stand against the work of the thief today—every scheme to steal my joy, kill my dreams, and destroy my faith. I renounce his lies in your mighty name.
Now, I receive the incredible gift you died to give me: your zoe life. I ask you to fill every part of my being with the abundance of your life. Let your life flow into my weaknesses, my fears, and my struggles. Let it overflow into my relationships and my actions.
Help me to stop settling for mere existence when you have purchased abundant life for me. Teach me to daily draw this life from you, my source. May my life today be a testimony to your goodness and your overflowing grace.
In your powerful name, I pray, Amen.