Tis the season of stretched-out days, hopes of sunshine, iced coffee & good vibes! Beach walks & barbecues- & lazing beneath shady trees. Blooming roses & teeming window boxes bursting with colour. Thriving life is visible all around!
The Greek word ‘bios’, (from which we derive biology & biography) means physical life–existing rather than dying! It’s life in black & white- survival.
But another Greek word ‘zoe’ means spiritual life from God. This word is used in the verses below & many other times in the Bible. ‘Zoe’ means never-ending, abundant, multicoloured life. Life as God intended it to be- the life we were created for!
Just before His death, Jesus prayed:
“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”
(John 17:3 NIV)
True life springs from a personal relationship with God- the One who knows us best & loves us most. The One who sent His Son Jesus to live on earth & die to give us true life.
Jesus also said:
“I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”
(John 10:10 MSG)
Without God, our life can feel flat & monotonous. We merely exist day to day. If we trust in God, our life is totally transformed- like the crawling caterpillar metamorphosing into a beautiful butterfly!
With God & in Him, we can have the life we were created for! We need to connect with our Life-giving Creator by communicating with Him -talking with Him by prayer & reading His Word in the Bible. Then, we can abide in God day by day & thrive where we’re planted.
The opening verses of Psalm 1 proclaim that blessed {favoured, happy-in-God} is the one who truly loves & deeply ponders God’s Word. They are described like a lush tree planted by a riverbank that is fruitful & evergreen.
We flourish in our relationship with our God when we are rooted in His word & His love.
May you thrive & know the overflowing, abundant life that is found in God alone!
‘Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!’
(Romans 15:13 MSG)
Blessings,
Ruth x
Blessed! 