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Overview
Getting in Sync with God’s Covenant WayGod operates and engages with mankind through an order and framework of a kind of relationship He calls covenant. He illustrated the nature of His heart and way of His covenant progressive series of covenants; first with Adam and Eve, then Noah, then Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He established a covenant and a law with Moses, then one with David. As the prophets, Jeremiah and Ezekiel proclaimed, God said He would seal a new covenant written on peoples’ hearts.
An important aspect of God’s covenant relates to the Appointed Times of the LORD. They serve as a cycle of ways in which God engages with His people. He didn’t appoint these encounters to be legalistic rituals, but real dynamic and refreshing ways to relate and interact with Him! Truly, God designed these appointed ways to be perpetual ways of engaging with Him in a very real and relevant manner. Scripture refers to them the Appointed Times of the Lord. God established seven particular appointed times grouped into three seasons. Truly, they represent annual cycles of life with relevance to our spiritual and physical lives. Through these appointed times, we see God’s overall pattern of Creation, Revelation and Redemption. It is a pattern He continuously works through. It is the pattern of His rhythm. It works the way rhythm and cadence work in music-- a flowing pattern bringing you to rest and peace. It is the way He designed for our lives to be in sync with Him! They serve to help us relate and engage with God in a truly dynamic and fruitful way! Truly, everything God does happens within the “the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2:23). God used the agricultural seasons to illustrate a story—or process—of ways He interacts with us; ways in which the Spirit of God flows to accomplish His purposes. He, therefore, would have us be more sensitive to His rhythm. Solomon had something to say about this.
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Values, Vision and Virtue The Holy Spirit imparts insight that strengthens our vision, bringing what was obscure to clarity, and what seemed so complex to simplicity. In order to do so God brings our values into alignment with His. When our values are congruent with God’s, we see things we never saw before! The Holy Spirit imparts new and greater measures of the virtue of Christ; His character and power, producing the fruit of the Spirit. Through grace, God’s works His process of transformation within us. Congruency is important because it measures our integrity, or state of wholeness in the LORD. The more we are congruent with Him, the more our character corresponds—or lines up with Him. This in essence is what being like Christ is all about. To help you through the process the pages within the section, Pentecost, include an added area for reflection: Values, Vision and Virtue. The more time you spend reflecting upon these issues, the greater growth you will experience. |
Living Life in its Fullness: In the LORD
God introduced Himself to Moses as “I AM WHO I AM” or simply, “I AM.” What a name! He came as Messiah to the Jewish people as Yeshua, meaning in Hebrew, salvation; or as commonly known in the Greek, Jesus. So He became Lord and Savior to all humanity who will believe and place trusting faith in Him.
So, what is IN THE NAME? He in fact has many names. The LORD personally used seven names to describe who He is, and who He will be to those who believe:
I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE
I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
I AM THE DOOR OF THE SHEEP
I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD
I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE
I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE
I AM THE TRUE VINE
How to appreciate ALL HE TRULY IS? Believers are filled with the Holy Spirit. Therefore, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4) Our opportunity is to allow God to transform us as we grow in the Lord “to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13)
The Pathways Devotional will help you understand God’s purposes, grow in the knowledge of God and into the fullness of your likeness—or measure of your capacity—IN HIM. Use the text, Questions and Scripture References as a starting point of your engagement with God on a particular topic. Allow the Holy Spirit to minister to you for personal relevance and application as you reflect on God's Word and truths. Keep in mind, there's grace at God's pace.
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