Jesus: Prayerful Reflections on the Son of God

Dr. William G. Covington Jr. PhD

Description

Jesus Christ presents Himself in various roles in the New Testament. Each chapter of this book looks at one aspect of His revelation to humanity and helps the reader prayerfully reflect on the meaning of that role in an individual's life. The first chapter relates to His role as a friend. Someone who is truly concerned for the welfare of another is a friend to be desired. There is a reason He referred to Himself as a friend in relating to His closest followers. The reflection questions at the end of the chapter provide the tools for examining this role in the life of the individual.
Other roles such as Wonderful Counselor, Good Shepherd, and Great High Priest are treated similarly.
The concluding chapter has to do with the ultimate question each person must face, death. Jesus Christ is the way to eternal life--in fact, the only way. This chapter looks at the parallel between the materialists of the generation when Jesus was in physical form on the earth and how that same mindset persists today, robbing people of receiving the gift of eternal life He has purchased and offers freely.

Sujets

• Jésus de Nazareth
• Religion
• Prayer
• Jesus
• Jesús de Nazaret
• Philosophie et théologie

Informations

• Publié par: iUniverse
• Date de parution: 27 mars 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781663251053
• Langue: English

Extrait

Other Books by Dr. William G. Covington, Jr.
Thoughts
Systems Theory Applied to Television Station Management
Creativity and General Systems Theory
Creativity in TV & Cable Managing & Producing
Creating the Person You’re Becoming
Individual Achievement In Social Systems from a Christian Perspective
Virtues that Matter
Perseverance: Power for Results



JESUS: PRAYERFUL REFLECTIONS ON THE SON OF GOD




WILLIAM G. COVINGTON, JR. PHD







JESUS:PRAYERFULREFLECTIONSON THESON OF GOD


Copyright © 2023 William G. Covington, Jr. PhD.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.






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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-6632-5104-6 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6632-5105-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023903885



iUniverse rev. date: 03/21/2023



CONTENTS
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgements

Chapter 1 Jesus as Friend
Chapter 2 Jesus as Counselor
Chapter 3 Jesus the Great High Priest
Chapter 4 God is Love
Chapter 5 Jesus as the Way
Chapter 6 Jesus as the Good Shepherd
Chapter 7 King Jesus
Chapter 8 The Truth
Chapter 9 The Author and Finisher of Our Faith
Chapter 10 Jesus the Only Way to Eternal Life



FOREWORD
Living a life of faith in a world that increasingly rejects Biblical principles and standards can seem overwhelming to new and even seasoned believers. We may, at times, feel desperate, stranded and alone in our attempts to live out what we believe, concurrently surrounded by voices that loudly reject virtue and elevate sin. Yet, we are not alone. God in His mercy has provided us with everything we need to live victoriously and to impact others with His love.
Dr. William G. Covington, Jr. reminds us of this great truth and many others in his book, Jesus: Prayerful Meditations on the Son of God . The book begins with an overview on friendship and its importance in everyone’s life, assessing compatibilities and contrasts while pointing to Jesus as the one true friend who will never leave or forsake us. He reminds us that our love should be directed vertically to the author of all good things and horizontally to the people we interact with in our daily lives, using Jesus as the perfect example of pure love.
The first chapter serves as an appropriate way to lead into a deeper consideration in the chapters that follow of the many facets of the triune God. Dr. Covington addresses the Creator as the source of all wisdom, the great Counselor who provides guidance, direction and understanding for those willing to accept it. He points to Jesus as our Great High Priest with whom we have direct access thanks to His sacrifice and the new covenant He provided.
Dr. Covington writes about our individual journeys as we continue toward our eternal home, warning against failing to see through deceptions, prompting us to remain true when our faith is tested, to continue in interactive prayer and to wait on the Lord, maintaining a “faith-filled stance” as situations resolve over time. Dr. Covington stresses that the Good Shepherd has chosen us, a fact with which we should respond in gratefulness and humility, and reminds that the world that can seem so strange and foreign to us today, is not our permanent home. Our kingdom is not of this world. Maintaining that focus helps when everything around us seems to spiral out of control.
Submitting to the rule of Jesus as Lord of our lives is a personal, daily decision, supported by an appreciation of God’s great love for us and an authentic trust in Him, knowing that He never changes and His plan for us is good. Dr. Covington supports the significant messages in each chapter with penetrating reflection questions that challenge us to examine the material attentively and consider its application in our individual lives.
This is a timely book suitable for anyone wanting to know more about the many roles of Jesus in our lives, about the resources God provides and the hope He brings that manifests itself even in challenging times. As Dr. Covington affirms with his thoughtful meditations, Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is the author and finisher of our faith.
Ronald K. Raymond, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Communication and Journalism
Pennsylvania Western University – Edinboro
Edinboro, PA 16444



PREFACE
Read any biography. Life isn’t easy and never has been. Each generation has its own set of challenges. People who desire to leave a worthwhile legacy and fulfill their God-given destiny want mental and spiritual tools that work—the lead to results. This book discusses one of those tools, perseverance. Essentially the principle is the refusal to give up in spite of circumstances.
How this principle has been applied in various contexts provides inspiration for how this force for achievement can be applied in the context a person faces in his or her current season of life. Academic studies are cited that provide data on how this principle has been verified to reach desired outcomes. Data from brain research is included, discussing how chemicals within a person are affected by mental processes for good or ill. A person can control his or her thoughts and does not have to be a victim of whatever thoughts are within range of perception.
Examples from history and the Bible are included. Tables provide an easy to view visual of some of the key concepts addressed. This principle is taken to an eternal perspective as the supernatural and eternal contexts are included. The application of perseverance—refusing to give up—is part of the life of stewardship to God if it is applied to His purposes.
William G. Covington, Jr. PhD
West Monroe, LA
September 4, 2020



ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Everyone needs a support system. It’s the way God made us. We give and receive encouragement on an ongoing basis if we’re acting according to the way we’re designed. At various stages in my life, different people have been pivotal in being used by the Lord to lift me up when I needed it. The thing about mentioning people who have been helpful in an acknowledgements section of a book is that inevitably memory will be such that I leave someone out, probably more than one.
With that caveat being stipulated, I would like to thank some people who have encouraged me during this segment of my life’s spiritual journey. The present is built on the past, so I’m very grateful for those who have already passed to the “other side”—my father, mother, and brother Gary. Their influence on my life will continue for the rest of my life and I thank God for that. They are enjoying the rewards for their work in the Lord while done on “this side.” Speaking of passing, as mentioned in the preface, Juanita Burk, edited this manuscript only weeks before passing to her reward to the next life. I saw her son in law at a restaurant as this book was going to press and he mentioned that the mystery had another component. When the coroner’s office was filling out the cause of death, the representative didn’t know what to put as the cause of death. She didn’t have a physician because she hadn’t been to a doctor’s office in decades. He told me that after the guy called his supervisor, they came up with something to put on the required paperwork.
Pastor Joel and Susan Brackett provided uplifting words in this season. My colleague, Dr. Anthony Esposito has the gift of encouragement and it is greatly appreciated. Often I do my writing, reading and researching over coffee at truck stops in Monroe and West Monroe. People there such as Christy, Jerry, Randy “Maverick”, Sam, Rhonda, Jasmine, Q, Tyler, Tish and Nick, who kept the coffee and conversation flowing. L. J. at IHOP is also an encourager, Ashley at Johnny’s Pizza, Dallas at Logan’s Steak House. Wesley, Sharon and W. L. Glidewell continue to help me in life’s journey also, as do my friends Mike Stenett in Louisiana and Gene Gallo and Frank Pruitt in Kansas City.
Most importantly of all I thank the Lord Jesus Christ for the privilege of writing this book about Him.



CHAPTER 1
Jesus as Friend
“Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”
John 15:14



It is hard to imagine that the eternally existing Son of God would give created beings the privilege of relating to Him as a friend, but that is exactly what Jesus Christ does and it’s recorded in Scripture. The invitation for a relationship is opened to all who will respond.
God is holy. An individual serious about starting and maintaining a friendship with the Lord must do it on His terms. He calls us to be set apart, to come out from among the world and be His holy people. We are distinct in that we are a holy nation, born of the Spirit of God.
On