Responding in Faith to God’s Invitation to New Life and Peace by Relating with Him through the Lord’s Passover

TRUTH AND PURPOSE

The Feast of Passover provides a great visual aid of our new birth and new life designed by God. How so? The Feast of Passover was prescribed in the Bible to mark a critical transition from the bondage of Egypt to freedom found in a life based on faith and trust in God. So as the children of Israel prepared to leave Egypt, the blood of the sacrificial lamb was washed over the doorposts of the home to spare its inhabitants from the angel of death which would strike the first born of Egypt.

God was, therefore, preparing the people for a whole new way of life. Consequently, He had some good surprises in store for them. He wanted to give them a new perspective on life. So He would be revealing a new way to receive His amazing grace and experience life in His awesome presence. He was about to demonstrate to them a new dimension of life whereby they would find favor by actively trusting Him. He has the same message for us today!

Upon crossing the Red Sea, the children of Israel had entered into a new kind of relationship with God. God would begin the process of renewing their minds. He also set out to strengthen their hearts and build their faith.  So through this process, God revealed His love in a new way. He brought the people to experience His presence. In addition, He demonstrated His awesome power, provision, and divine protection.

Through the 40 year journey, God demonstrated His love and way to walk with Him in the new life. As the Scripture says, He did so “that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.”  (Deuteronomy 8:3)

RELEVANCE

The Lord, likewise, began His ministry by spending 40 days in the wilderness.  At the end of that period, He quoted this very Scripture when tempted. When questioned by the Jewish leader, Nicodemus, He uttered a profound statement:

Yes, indeed, I tell you that unless a person is born from water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. 6 What is born from the flesh is flesh, and what is born from the Spirit is spirit. 7 Stop being amazed at my telling you that you must be born again from above! 8 The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it’s going. That’s how it is with everyone who has been born from the Spirit. (John 3:5-8 JNT)

The new birth, or being “born again” is a gift of God’s love and grace. It is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit, changing the disposition of one’s soul, inclining the heart to God. As a result, the “new nature” of this renewed heart has a new set of values and motivations. However, it must be cultivated and nurtured by intentional choices to grow in this new life.

Effective spiritual growth, therefore, is accomplished through Bible study, prayer, meditation on God’s Word, active fellowship, faithfulness, a willingness to yield to the Holy Spirit, and a heart inclined to worship God in spirit and truth.

The message of such a time of a new birthing has great relevance to all with an ear to hear, eye to see and heart to believe new things God is doing! A wise person maintains a posture of being observant and attentive to new and emerging things God may be doing in this season. As Creator, God is always birthing new things: creative ideas, character traits, ways of doing things, new opportunities, etc.

God truly watches over our affairs and has foreordained plans and purposes in which we have the opportunity to participate. He, therefore, desires that we are mindful of changes in seasons, seek Him and engage with Him to discover and discern such new things and opportunities that may bless us.

REFLECT AND RELATE

How are you cultivating and nurturing your new nature as a born again believer?

With whom do you fellowship to build yourself up in faith?

How are you ordering your time to include God in the equation of your life?

In what ways can you lock in a posture to be observant and perceive and discern new things God may be doing?

REFERENCES

John 3:5-8; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 5:17

NEXT STEPS

Vertical movement: The more you respond to God in faith, the more God will take you deeper, releasing greater insights and understanding of His nature and ways.  As a result, you will also experience greater liberty and joy.

Horizontal movement: As you experience the freedom of the Holy Spirit, you will see the grace and blessings of being fully immersed in God’s love and life. Water immersion, or baptism, is simply an outward sign of what God has already done in your heart.

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