Christian Living

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Breathe On Me

Reading has always been a great pleasure of mine. Beginning in my teenager years reading was an escape, I loved to daydream, and reading was an opportunity to step into someone else’s world. Fiction was primarily my first choice for that very reason. The Bible however is not fiction; it is not just a book of stories. The Word of God is a real account of persons and times, the ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I don’t read much fiction anymore; it seems almost a waste when real life and real experiences in God’s Word issue the hope and promise to have the abundant living that I often fantasized about as a child. Even better than a book club for the latest national bestseller, I look forward to sharing the Word of God! It breathes life.

In my recent reading the book of John 20:19-23, the resurrected Christ appeared to the disciples and commanded them to go out and continue in the ministry, at the conclusion he breathed on them. Christ didn’t send them to minister with simply their own ability, limited knowledge, or any possible acts of persuasion- he breathed on them his Holy Spirit. Imagine the condition of the disciples. They were distraught and broken; their Master was gone. Then He appears to them and tells them you must go on, but not alone, never alone, and so he breathes on them. He breathes his precious Spirit. How wonderful and encouraged they must have felt to know that though absent in the flesh His Spirit was now a part of their very being. I often wonder when I encounter persons that do not know the Lord, what I can say, what can I do that will bring them into the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Many times I feel frustrated and failing in those attempts. Then I remember what Jesus did for his disciples he has also done for me- He breathed on me.

The power of the gospel of Christ has absolutely nothing to do with the herald, any ministerial status, or evangelical reputation, because none can be perfect and irrefutable. Only Christ. There must be no flaws, cracks, or inconsistencies. We are flawed, broken in many areas, and far more inconsistent than we care to admit. Only the Word will pass the test, speak life, render absolute healing, and deliver. Souls will enter into relationship with Christ based on nothing else. The fact is that Christ died for us all while we were still dead in our sins. The Bible says there is none that seek after righteousness. Christ rescued us all and not one of us was looking for the life line! He says, behold I stand at the door and knock if any man answer I will come in. He acts and all we are called to do is react- accept the gift. He first loved us and so now it is that we love him. God has always been and will always be the initiator. Now I ask, who can do more for you than Christ has already done?! For greater love than this has no man, except he lay down his life for his friend. Jesus, thank you, for laying down your life so freely, taking the sins of all when none belonged to your perfect nature, and rising again to offer all who believe on your name the gift of eternal life.

Breathing is absolutely a natural occurrence of the body given by the grace of God to sustain life for all who believe and all who do not according to His divine will, but as believers we also receive the breath of Christ’s Spirit. The breath we need of God to carry out the ministry to go as he instructed the disciples. The breath we need to walk worthy of the calling with which we have been called. The breath to let our love and kindness increase in the most harsh and bitter circumstances. The breath to believe with God all things are possible to them that believe. If I had to breathe without the breath of Christ’s Spirit I would surely be lifeless. My strength relies on it; my joy is rooted in it; and my testimony has no power without it.

As the song goes, my heart lifts its words before my Savior-

Breathe onto me Lord the breath of life.
So that my spirit will be whole and my soul made right.
Breathe onto me Lord day by day.
So that my heart is pure before you always.

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