The Word 'and'

While reading many of us tend to overlook and underestimate the importance of words.  While reading the Gospel of John chapter 10 verse 10 the Lord impressed upon me the importance of the conjunction 'and'.  

John 10:10 reads "The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, an kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly." ASV 1901.  The first part of the verse describes the three jobs of the devil; who is referred to as a thief: 1) Steal - take another's property without permission 2) Kill - cause the death of a person, animal, or living thing 3) Destroy - Put an end to the existence of something by damaging or attacking it.  Now the devil has all three of these jobs!  Not just one but three!  Take a moment to understand the different ways the devil is after you.  

Yet God's desire is "that they (us) may have life, and have it more abundantly.  On the surface God's job appears to be one dimensional in giving life but in fact it is two dimensional.  We can see this from the conjunction 'and' used at the end of the verse. God's desire is to first give us life.  Life - the condition that distinguishes from inorganic matter / the capacity for growth.  He also wants us to have the second part which is "life abundant".  Abundant is defined as - available in large quantities or having plenty.  

What does this mean for you and I? It means we can receive our wonderful salvation and have an exciting life.  We do this by simply by receiving what God already wants for us!