THE GIVER AND THE TAKER!
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10 NKJV). This verse shows us something powerful: Jesus is a giver, while the enemy is a taker. The enemy has a strategy, to steal, kill and destroy. But Jesus came to give us life, and not just life, but life more abundantly.
When I was a child living in Ghana, I remember going to school one day and coming back home to discover that our house had been broken into. Our window had been forced open and the netting had been cut. My mum told us that while we were at school, thieves had come into our home. From that moment, I became afraid of living in that house. I kept thinking, What if they come back? What if next time I’m at home when they come? Looking back at that experience, I realised a few things about thieves.
1. Thieves come where they believe there is something valuable
A thief does not break into a place expecting to find nothing. They come because they believe there is something worth taking. In the same way, the enemy knows that there is something valuable inside of you. God has placed gifts, purpose and destiny within you. There are things God wants to do in you and through you. That is why the enemy tries to steal your joy, your peace, your confidence and your hope. He wants to destroy what God is building in your life. But remember this: anything worth stealing is worth protecting.
2. Thieves create fear
After our house was broken into, the thieves were gone, but the fear remained.
That is what the enemy tries to do. Sometimes we go through painful situations and, even after the situation has passed, fear stays behind. We begin to constantly look over our shoulders.
What if it happens again? What if I fail again? What if I get hurt again? Before we realise it, “what if?” has become our friend. The enemy wants fear to remain long after the attack is over. But Jesus does not want us to live imprisoned by fear. He came to give us life.
3. Thieves are sneaky
Thieves rarely announce that they are coming. They do not knock on the front door and introduce themselves. They wait for an opportunity; when it is dark, when nobody is watching or when everyone is asleep. This is why, as Christians, we must remain spiritually vigilant. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”(1 Peter 5:8 NKJV). We cannot afford to be spiritually asleep. We must stay close to God, remain prayerful and be aware of the enemy’s strategies.
BUT THEN THERE IS JESUS, THE GIVER
While the enemy comes to take, Jesus came to give.
He came to give us life, hope and a future.
1. Jesus came to save the lost
Luke 19:10 tells us: “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Humanity had lost its way, but Jesus came to lead us back to the Father. There is only one way to the Father, and that way is through Jesus. He did not wait for the lost to find Him. He came looking for us.
2. Jesus came to give His life as a ransom
Mark 10:45 says: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Think about that for a moment. Jesus, the King of kings, did not come demanding to be served. He came to serve us and ultimately gave His own life for us. Royalty gave Himself for humanity. What an incredible demonstration of love.
3. Jesus came to call sinners to repentance
Jesus said: “I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (Mark 2:17 NKJV).
Jesus did not come for perfect people. He came for people who needed saving. He came for the broken, the lost and the sinner. That means nobody is too far gone for Jesus.
4. Jesus came to give us abundant life
And this brings us back to our main point: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10 NKJV). The giver and the taker.
The enemy wants to steal. Jesus wants to give.
The enemy wants to kill. Jesus gives eternal life.
The enemy wants to destroy. Jesus restores.
The enemy wants you to live in fear. Jesus gives you hope.
The enemy sees something valuable in you and wants to destroy it, but Jesus saw something worth dying for.
Anything worth stealing is worth protecting.
Jesus came to give us life, and He gave His own life so that we could have it. That is how deeply He loves us.
So when life becomes difficult, when fear begins to creep in, or when you feel as though the enemy is trying to steal your joy, peace or hope, remember who Jesus is.
Run to the Giver.
Run to the One who saves.
Run to the One who restores.
Run to the One who gave His life for you.
Jesus is the way, and He is the only way.
May God bless you!
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