WHAT SIDE OF THE COMMA ARE YOU LIVING ON?

Which side of the comma are you living on?

Last month I had the opportunity to spend a week with one of the most influential people in my life, John Maxwell, the author of the “21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership” and “Running with the Giants” plus a number of other titles. His ability to connect with people is quite amazing to say the least – “Hi, my name is John and I am your friend” is his signature introduction. As a pastor he is able to draw leadership principles directly from God’s Word and teach them in a way that is crystal clear. Needless to say there was plenty of learning and growing during such week. On the second day he posed a question that stirred my spirit and quite frankly served as a catalyst – “What side of the comma are you living on?”

What side of the comma are you living on?

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that you may have life, and that you may have it more abundantly.” These are the words spoken by Jesus as recorded by the Apostle John (John 10:10) I would like to focus on the second part of the verse –“I have come that you may have life, and that you may have it more abundantly”.

As believers we understand that God is a three part being; the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and I believe that we all agree on the fact God is the Creator and the Giver of life. It is therefore clear that He has given us life, the fact that you are reading this article is evidence of this very fact. However very few can testify to the latter part of the verse

“and that you may have it more abundantly”. You see many live on the left side of the comma yet few have chosen to live on the right side. There is a monumental difference between the two that I would like to highlight. The left side of the comma requires less of our time, less commitment and in all reality it doesn’t require a total submission. Living on the left side of the comma is recognizing that we are God created and nothing more. The left side is a place of complacency and stagnancy. It is living life as a reservoir and not as a river. It is a life without purpose or direction, it is going through the day to day motions. It produces a self-centered lifestyle that focuses on personal gain and views servanthood as a weakness. It requires no discipline for discipline is the characteristic of a disciple.

So how do I get to the right side of the comma???

Believing in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life is the ticket that gives you the right to travel from one side to the other. It is during this time that He makes you a brand new creation – :the old things are passed away and all things have become new” (2 Cor 5:17). There is a miraculous transformation of the heart that happens the moment you say yes to Jesus and no to the world and its pleasures. The Apostle Paul spoke to the Romans about the importance of renouncing to the world and renewing their minds in order to experience God’s perfect, pleasing and good will for their lives” (Rom 12:2-3) It is on the right side of the comma where you experience love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self control. It is on the right side where you become a flowing river of God’s blessings and all those who come into contact with you

are impacted by His amazing love. You see God is not looking for perfection only disposition. A teachable and humble heart is the kind that can be filled with God’s abundance -“and that you may have it more abundantly”. Position yourself and see that He will not hold back. He desires to bless you in abundance, to the full till it overflows.

The question is: what side of the comma are you living on???

Shalom,

Milton

www.facebook.com/milton.lifecoach www.johnmaxwellgroup.com/miltongonzalez

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