The Life We Have

By J. Randal Matheny

    Jesus brings us life. To put it more accurately, Jesus is life. “I am the way, the truth, and the life” John 14.6. Here is the life of God, ever near and possible in its fullest:
    Life is giving, receiving the multiple gifts of God and offering it to others through the many channels God provides; it’s the happy shuffle of sharing.
    Life is strength to meet challenges, joy to face the suffering, and comfort when tears fall.
    Life is purpose that ties all the disparate pieces of a day together and trusts in God to make sense of it all on down the road.
    Life is peace under the umbrella of God’s grace, the resting sheep on the green grass at the edge of deep and cold water, the sure movement toward the final goal.
    Life is knowledge that not a thought or action is wasted in God’s economy; it’s catching a ride with him who not only knows the way, but actually built it.
    Life is love received from God’s presence and multiplied in its passing to others, the sharing of divine friendship and the intimacy for which we were created.
    Life is fullness, a heart overflowing with gratitude, a mind that can’t stop counting its blessings, a satisfied soul in search of a hungry traveler.
    Life is wisdom gained from listening, the daily question of how God makes it all work in his way, in his time; it’s the eye that sees what few take time to note.
    Life is vibrancy, the feeling of vitality even when all is still and eyes are closed in rest; it’s the depth of a universe attuned to the breath of the Spirit who dwells in each child of God.
    Life is choice, the cereal-aisle of blessing and service in his moving kingdom, the exercised will to please the Lord in every way.
    Life is goodness, the childlike vision to see God’s rainbow, the sincerity of innocence to believe that justice will prevail, the compassion that feels the sharpness of another’s pain.
    Life is continuity, the promise of the morrow, the enthusiasm to see beyond the bend, and the solid hope of eternity; it’s the reaching for God, who’s never beyond our touch, but always prompting us with new glories to be discovered.
    Jesus said, “I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly” John 10.10. And so we do.

- J. Randal Matheny edits and writes UPLift, an inspirational ezine. He
may be contacted here: <http://randalmathenycom/>. When reprinting this material, please include the following: 
Copyright (c) 2017 J. Randal Matheny
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