Yesterday I wrote that today’s blog would be about ‘breath’, but I postpone it one more day, because I need to say something about images. As a tool to come closer to an understanding of holiness, it can be helpful to look at some of the Biblical images of the Spirit. This will help me to take a step from what sometimes is conceived as abstract to a more concrete insight.
The Hebrew (ruach) and Greek (πνευμα - pneuma) used for the Spirit can also be translated with e.g. breath, wind and air. Even though I cannot “see” breath, wind and air, they are very real and concrete. I cannot live without them, because I need air to breath and the air needs wind to be in movement. Everything that belongs to the Spirit is in a constant movement. So is the life of holiness (1).
The image of a “spirit” can be confusing even for some Christians. For some it is even more difficult if we use the word “ghost”. It is easier to relate to the physical realities. A “ghost” does not have a body – the disciples knew that, and were scared when they saw the resurrected Christ – he responded by referring to his body, asked them to touch it and ate some fish to convince them (2).
I know from experience that it is possible to have a personal relationship with the Spirit of God, but to have such a relationship I must continuously learn more about Him to know Him better. I do that by being together with the Spirit in the way Paul describes:
'In him we live and move and have our being.'The best way to make the Spirit more concrete for people in the world is to live with the Spirit like Jesus lived with him.
Acts 17:28
‘Manna’ for today:
The Spirit is just as real as breath, wind and air.--------------------------------------
(1) See: John 3:8
(2) See: Luke 24:36-43
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