Experiencing Abundant Life by Relating with the Lord who is the Good Shepherd

God wants you to experience abundant life. How so? Messiah Jesus came to fulfill prophecy and bear revelation of God’s covenant truths. He fulfilled Scripture, revealing its greater purposes and providing more accurate understanding.

So while the disciples were celebrating Shavuot, a/k/a the Feast of Pentecost, 50 days after His resurrection, the Holy Spirit was poured out on them in a big way! Traditionally, this feast had been observed to celebrate the harvest and the giving of the Ten Commandments to Moses. Now, however, it would truly represent the fullness of God’s covenant! So we, therefore, celebrate His incredible love and amazing grace expressed through the fullness of His Word and Spirit.

RELEVANCE

It was on this day that Peter stood up remembering the prophecy of Joel, “I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh…” (Joel 2:28)

The people certainly had a lot to think and pray about! Consider the following things Messiah Jesus had told them:

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep….14 I am the good shepherd; I know my own, and my own know me — 15 just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father — and I lay down my life on behalf of the sheep. 16 Also I have other sheep which are not from this pen; I need to bring them, and they will hear my voice; and there will be one flock, one shepherd. (John 10:11-18 JNT)

I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.  13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth…He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. (John 16:12-15)

The Lord intentionally prepared His followers to be sensitized to receiving God’s love and truth from the Holy Spirit. He in fact placed a high emphasis on preparing His disciples to receive the ministry of the Holy Spirit, who pours out His grace and truth in continuing His ministry as the God Shepherd to lead His people in His love and His life His way. We see this especially in John 13-16 through His final discussion with His closest disciples before His betrayal and arrest.

Truly, the Holy Spirit is God’s key differentiator governing the effectiveness of our works and fruitfulness of our lives. Yielding intently to, discerning and following the leadership and guidance of the Holy Spirit makes all the difference in our endeavors.

So, as we allow the Holy Spirit to help us interpret God’s Word, we sense God’s love, life and the tangible reality of His presence. It happens within our intimate relationship with God as we approach Him with a soft humble heart, open inquisitive mind and active trusting faith.

He truly is the Lord our Shepherd, who leads us by His Word and presence of the Holy Spirit. He fills us with the substance of His abundant life through the Holy Spirit!

REFLECT AND RELATE

With so many voices fighting for your attention, how do you discern the voice of the Shepherd leading and guiding you daily?

How do you spend time with the Shepherd daily, receiving His insights, counsel, and wisdom?

How do you think you become more sensitive to the leading and prompting of the Holy Spirit?

NEXT STEPS

The more you come to see and relate with the Lord’s identity as the Good Shepherd, the more you can likewise see more fully and relate with His identity as the Resurrection and the Life.

Truly, God wants to be involved in your life. He, therefore, wants you to identify with Him and grow in Him. He wants to bless you with His presence so you can experience His abundant life. He, therefore, wants you to bring Him into the equation of every aspect of your life. So as you engage with the Lord, the Holy Spirit speaks to your heart, bringing comfort, encouragement and wisdom. Therefore, our devotional, MyPathwaysDevotional, is designed to help you live life in the Lord. You will find topics covering many areas of life. Bring God into the equations of your life and be blessed!

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