The Breath of God

Today’s message was written by Guest Pastor, Chaplin Bob Griffiths.

We read in the Bible of the many ways that the Holy Spirit operated through history from the beginning: “And the Spirit of God hovered over the waters.” Then, later, the Spirit came to the prophets and then, in the New Testament, to Zechariah and to Elizabeth and to Mary and to Simeon and to John and to Jesus. But these instances are not mere history; the Holy Spirit still comes to us today, right here, right now, among us, with us, in us, and through us. All we need to do is open our hearts and minds to its glorious and healing presence.  

But the Spirit is very real in another way. The Hebrew word ruach and the Greek word pneuma, translated as Spirit, also mean breath: the breath of God! Hebrew scholar Robert Alter translates that second verse of Genesis as “God’s breath hovering over the waters.” As it hovers over us – breathes on us – every moment of our existence. To help us be grateful for the good times and to carry us through the bad. That’s how much God loves us – first, he sent his only Son to the end that all that believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. And now, today, He sends His Spirit to fill us with the knowledge of God’s never-failing care and love for us, for this life, and for the life to come. So help us, dear Lord, to listen with the ear of our heart, to watch with the eye of the heart, as we pray:

“Holy Spirit, come to us. Breathe on us, breath of God. Come fill our hearts with the fire of your love. Merciful and loving God, you have opened the way of eternal life to every one of us, to every race and nation. May this saving Spirit reach to the ends of the earth. Open our hearts to be always ready to receive you and your Son and your Spirit as welcome guests. This we pray, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and your Holy Spirit in the eternal kingdom.” Amen.