Life to the Full 丰盛生命
Dexu Xia
Life to the Full
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. John 10:10–11
Seventeenth-century philosopher Thomas Hobbes famously wrote that human life in its natural state is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” Hobbes argued that our instincts tend toward war in a bid to attain dominance over others; thus the establishment of government would be necessary to maintain law and order.
The bleak view of humanity sounds like the state of affairs that Jesus described when He said, “All who have come before me are thieves and robbers” (John 10:8). But Jesus offers hope in the midst of despair. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy,” but then the good news: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (v. 10).
Psalm 23 paints a refreshing portrait of the life our Shepherd gives us. In Him, we “lack nothing” (v. 1) and are refreshed (v. 3). He leads us down the right paths of His perfect will, so that even when we face dark times, we need not be afraid; for He is present to comfort us (vv. 3–4). He causes us to triumph in the face of adversity and overwhelms us with blessings (v. 5). His goodness and love follow us every day, and we have the privilege of His presence forever (v. 6).
May we answer the Shepherd’s call and experience the full, abundant life He came to give us.
How would you describe the life that Jesus came to give? How can you share this life with others?
Jesus, You’re the source of true life, abundant and full. Help me seek my fulfillment only in You.
丰盛生命
我来了，是要叫羊（或作“人”）得生命，并且得的更丰盛。我是好牧人。—约翰福音10章10-11节
十七世纪的哲学家托玛斯 · 霍布斯（Thomas Hobbes）曾写下一段著名的论述：“在自然的状况下，人类的生活是孤独、贫困、污秽、野蛮又短暂的。”霍布斯认为，人的本性喜爱争斗，以获取统治他人的地位。因此，绝对有必要建立政府来执行法律和维持秩序。
当耶稣说：“凡在我以先来的，都是贼，是强盗”（约翰福音10章8节），人们正处在这种悲观的景况。然而，耶稣让绝望中的人们得着盼望和好消息，祂说：“盗贼来，无非要偷窃、杀害、毁坏；我来了，是要叫羊（或作“人”）得生命，并且得的更丰盛。”（10节）
诗篇23篇也清楚描绘这位牧人赐给我们的生命，那是一幅清新美好的画面。在祂里面，我们“不至缺乏”（1节），心灵甦醒（3节）。祂带领我们行在祂完美旨意的正道上，因此我们即使面对黑暗的时刻，也不需害怕，祂的同在能安慰我们（3-4节）。祂使我们在敌人的面前得胜，且使我们的恩福满溢（5节）。祂的美善和慈爱日日伴随我们，而我们还有这份殊荣能享有祂的同在直到永远（6节）。愿我们能回应牧人的呼唤，并经历“祂来”所带给我们丰盛、富足的生命。
耶稣，唯有祢能赐给人丰盛、满足的生命。求祢帮助我们，唯独在祢里面寻求真正的满足。
你会如何描述耶稣所要赐给我们的生命呢？你如何向人传讲这样的生命呢？