As I sat in the warm Florida sunshine drinking a cup of coffee with a dear friend, I thought, it does not get much better than this! My friend and I had a cup of coffee, but we also had one or more cups of laughter. We sat outside on the patio to enjoy the warm winter temperatures of Florida.
Across the way were a couple of other women enjoying lunch together. In the corner of the fence that the surrounded the patio were two young men just loitering. I really did not give it much thought. Suddenly, one of the men quickly sprinted by the other two women, snatching the purse of one of them. He was long and lanky and quite a speedster and was gone in a dash.
No way was he getting away with stealing what was not his! I quickly got out of my seat with my cell phone in-hand and began to chase him, while calling the 911 operator to explain the situation. Though I could not stop this thief on my own, I continued running and telling them where he was. In a matter of a few moments, the authorities caught him, and the woman got her purse back. When I told my husband the story, he thought I was crazy to chase the thief. I told him that I called those who had the power and authority to catch this thief. I was not in the battle alone. I was running with authority.
Jesus said, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). According to Jesus, the thief comes to steal, to kill, and destroy. He is standing in the corner of the fence just waiting to steal your joy, to kill your dreams, and to destroy your hope. The thief is against you. God is for you.
Jesus makes an undeniable contrast. I came to take authority over the thief and undo his intentions. “If you follow me, I will give you an abundant life.” The word abundant means superior, extraordinary. That does not mean everyone will be rich and have a swimming pool in the backyard. It does not mean that one will have a problem-free life. It does mean that we can enjoy life to the fullest as we walk with the Lord. It does mean that we have been set free from the bondage of sin, the lies of Satan, and the voice of the world.
The devil wants to control how we live our lives. He does this by planting seeds of doubt and fear. The devil knows that if he can keep us sipping coffee and letting him snatch what God has offered us, we will focus on the negative things around us. The devil will whisper in our ears, “Where is God? What good is praying? Nothing will ever change.”
Now that you are fully aware that you have an enemy who wants to steal, kill, and destroy you, what will you do as a child of God? It’s time for God’s people to rise up from that cup of coffee, run with the authority of Heaven, and stop Satan from wreaking havoc. The authority of Heaven will give us the power to resist every attack and lie of the devil, and to overcome every strategy that he tries to use against us. Do not let him snatch your purse! Get it back.