Christian Counseling Service -- Devotions

Ruah

Sunday, May 11, 2008

John 20:21-22
Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit."

Acts 2:1-4
When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled their entire house.

Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

Genesis 1:2. "Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." The Hebrew word for "hover" is ruah, a word that usually means "wind" or "breath."

God breathes, and all things become new. Darkness became light. Continents rose up out of the seas. God breathed, and carbonated life forms appeared, plants and animals. God breathed, and man took his first steps, blinked his eyes, had his first thoughts ...

God breathed again, and Jesus came to the earth. Jesus lived among his brothers and sisters, and was one of them. And then upon his own departure, Jesus breathed and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit."

Ruah. This the wind of God, sometimes a cyclone that unravels ancient roots of oaks, and sometimes a tiny wisp of air that brings healing and spirit down from heaven to the earth.

On this fiftieth day forever honored in the church, a strong wind blew in Jerusalem. What is this outpouring of speech, babel come to Jerusalem, disciples suddenly fluent in words never heard before? Since nearly the dawn of life we had been separated by language; now in the fiery grip of the Holy Spirit these men began using words to bring us together.

John writes, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). Our striving for unity often pushes us further apart. God's breath brings us back together. He made us all one people, children to play in the fields of the Lord. He wants us back playing, back laughing, back together and unafraid, and his Son, his Spirit, his life are all dedicated to that goal.

Jesus may rise into heaven, but he leaves the Holy Spirit to breathe on us, and every day we are made new.

When I feel your breath, Lord, give me ears and eyes and skin to know you and call you by your name.

Devotions Archive

Ruah

Sunday, May 11, 2008