An ocean separates me from my son. And sometimes I want to communicate more to him than I can by phone, so I’m writing a letter to my son. I’m filling him in, telling him anecdotes about daily life. But what I really want to share are my thoughts. I want to talk to him about my meditations on the Holy Spirit, the power of God. And so, after completing the first page where I spoke to him of family news and all that I have been doing, I start the second page.
Dear Andrew,
In Genesis I see the first mention of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. The earth at that time was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths. I see this connection with the Spirit of God and water, and my mind is drawn to when Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, he should come to Me and drink! The one who believes in Me, as the scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him” (John 7:37,38). This living water is the Holy Spirit. I believe this is the same living water that we see, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God in the last chapter of the Bible.
I also see a reference to the Holy Spirit in Genesis when we are introduced to the breath of God. After God spoke all things into being the Bible says that "the Lord God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7). When Jesus appeared to His disciples after His resurrection it says that He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22). I think the Holy Spirit is not only found in the form of breath, but also by the violent rushing wind from heaven on the day of Pentecost.
On the day of Pentecost there was not only wind there was fire. In 2 Samuel 22:9 you find the breath of God is also a consuming fire. Hebrews 12 tells us that the voice of God is able to shake both heaven and earth, and that our God is a consuming fire. It was in the second chapter of Acts that the Holy Spirit came in the form of tongues like flames of fire and those on whom these tongues rested were never the same.
You know, Andrew, the picture of Jesus crying out, “If anyone is thirsty let him come to me and drink,” is very special to me. It’s what I saw when I woke up in recovery after my brain surgery. And then there is the powerful and intimate picture of the Spirit in both Jesus breathing on His disciples and as a violent rushing wind that shakes a building. Finally, I see the Spirit as a consuming fire.
So what does your mother do with these thoughts? I enter into each day fully embraced and fully surrendered to this mystery.
Love,
Mom
Monday, August 27, 2018
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
The Perfect Prayer
The man ran up, and knelt at Jesus feet. What a beautiful picture. Then came his prayer, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus listed six of the ten commands. He responded by saying that he had kept all theses from his youth. After he said this Jesus was looking at him and loved him. Can you just imagine with me for one moment what it would be like to have Jesus looking at you that way? But was this the perfect prayer?
Jesus told the rich man that he lacked just one thing and to go and sell all he had and give to the poor. When he said this I think he was pointing to the first commandment. “You shall have no other gods before Me.” I think that the young man was stunned and went away grieving because Jesus had shown him his heart. I think that he sincerely wanted to be good. Jesus had already told him that no one is good but One—God. Now, Jesus had pointed out that even though he wanted to do something to inherit eternal life he was worshiping at the alter of wealth. I think he was stunned because at the feet of Jesus he saw into his own heart for the first time.
Peter was quick to respond that he and the apostles had left everything to follow Jesus. As they continued on their journey those who had left everything began to discuss what they would gain for their sacrifice. They came to Jesus with a request saying,”Teacher, we want you to do something for us if we ask you.” Jesus responded by saying, “What do you want me to do for you?”
Sometimes when I’m praying I picture myself with Jesus and I think about him asking me, “What do you want me to do for you?” John and James responded by asking to sit at Jesus’ left and right in his glory. Like the rich young ruler they to were thinking about eternal life and their prayer revealed their hearts. Jesus didn’t rebuke them but he did say that they didn’t know what they were asking for. They accepted Jesus’ invitation to ask him for what they wanted him to do for them. But was this the perfect prayer?
Finally, we come to a man lost in the crowd, a blind beggar, sitting by the side of the road. He heard that Jesus was passing by. He couldn’t get to him because of the crowd and because he was blind. He did the only thing he could, he began to cry out to Jesus for mercy. He was getting on people’s nerves so they told him to be quiet! But he just kept on crying out for mercy.
Jesus stopped and called for the bind man. Unlike the rich young ruler who was unable to give up his possessions to follow Jesus the bind beggar threw off his coat when Jesus called him. Jesus asked the blind man the same thing he’d asked James and John, “What do you want me to do for you?” He asked for sight.
So what is the perfect prayer? I believe it is the cry for mercy. It’s the prayer of the heart that he will do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. I believe when he cried out “Rabbouni, I want to see.” That he received more than physical sight.
Jesus told the rich man that he lacked just one thing and to go and sell all he had and give to the poor. When he said this I think he was pointing to the first commandment. “You shall have no other gods before Me.” I think that the young man was stunned and went away grieving because Jesus had shown him his heart. I think that he sincerely wanted to be good. Jesus had already told him that no one is good but One—God. Now, Jesus had pointed out that even though he wanted to do something to inherit eternal life he was worshiping at the alter of wealth. I think he was stunned because at the feet of Jesus he saw into his own heart for the first time.
Peter was quick to respond that he and the apostles had left everything to follow Jesus. As they continued on their journey those who had left everything began to discuss what they would gain for their sacrifice. They came to Jesus with a request saying,”Teacher, we want you to do something for us if we ask you.” Jesus responded by saying, “What do you want me to do for you?”
Sometimes when I’m praying I picture myself with Jesus and I think about him asking me, “What do you want me to do for you?” John and James responded by asking to sit at Jesus’ left and right in his glory. Like the rich young ruler they to were thinking about eternal life and their prayer revealed their hearts. Jesus didn’t rebuke them but he did say that they didn’t know what they were asking for. They accepted Jesus’ invitation to ask him for what they wanted him to do for them. But was this the perfect prayer?
Finally, we come to a man lost in the crowd, a blind beggar, sitting by the side of the road. He heard that Jesus was passing by. He couldn’t get to him because of the crowd and because he was blind. He did the only thing he could, he began to cry out to Jesus for mercy. He was getting on people’s nerves so they told him to be quiet! But he just kept on crying out for mercy.
Jesus stopped and called for the bind man. Unlike the rich young ruler who was unable to give up his possessions to follow Jesus the bind beggar threw off his coat when Jesus called him. Jesus asked the blind man the same thing he’d asked James and John, “What do you want me to do for you?” He asked for sight.
So what is the perfect prayer? I believe it is the cry for mercy. It’s the prayer of the heart that he will do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. I believe when he cried out “Rabbouni, I want to see.” That he received more than physical sight.
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