Breath of Life

Breath of Life

Genesis 2: ⁷ And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

 

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GOD, in HIS recap of the beginning of humanity, describes how he made the first man to Moses. GOD took the complex minerals and formed the first human. It was lifeless until HE breathed into the sculpture.

 

My Observations:

• GOD made humans special.
• GOD took time to fashion the first human.
• GOD spoke other things into existence, but humans received HIS breath of life.

 

No other creature received the breath of life. GOD wanted humans to be a special creation and gave a soul to us. All the autonomous systems inside humans were functioning. The brain was able to produce and receive thoughts.

 

When GOD breathed the breath of life into man, he made him pure. There was no sin in the breath.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD gave Moses this recap of what HE made the first man out of?
• Why do you think GOD did not breathe into any other living thing?
• Have you considered that GOD created you special to HIM and wants the best for you?

Mistaken Report

Matthew 14: At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, ² and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

³ Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, ⁴ for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” ⁵ Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet.

⁶ On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much ⁷ that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. ⁸ Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” ⁹ The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted ¹⁰ and had John beheaded in the prison. ¹¹ His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. ¹² John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

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Herod’s beliefs made him hear the report of JESUS’s miracles differently. Herod thought that if a person is killed they could come back as a super-powered ghost-human. Though he may have had many killed, he chose John as the cause because he had John murdered.

• My soul will last for eternity and will never enter into someone else.
• My soul will be raised to heaven only because I believe that JESUS is my savior.
• My soul will receive a new sinless body not another sinful body.

Herod almost had it right. JESUS would later be raised from the dead but not for Herod’s self-center purpose. JESUS would in fact be murdered, just like HIS cousin John. BUT JESUS died for a much greater purpose.

• JESUS came to earth as a human who never sinned.
• JESUS was accused, slandered, beaten and killed by those who were church leaders.
• JESUS rose from the dead to assume all power.

Suffering was JESUS’s purpose, not to come back and torment one person. Herod’s beliefs got him an eternity separated from JESUS. My beliefs bring me eternal salvation.

• Do you have beliefs in reincarnation?
• Do you think science will explain away your eternal soul?
• Will you take the step today to believe in the ONE who can save you, namely JESUS? 

Want to embrace “greatness?”

Mark 12:  ²⁸ One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

   ²⁹ “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. ³⁰ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ ³¹ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

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Many times I have wanted that promotion or that highly visible project so I could bask in the spotlight when I achieved the goal. I loved receiving awards and I achieved a lot of them.  There is something about the spotlight that made me feel “great.”

• GOD is not impressed with the awards I achieve rather the people I serve.
• GOD is not concerned if I get earthly pats on the back rather HE looks at how I pat others on the back.
• GOD is not moved when I achieve another award given by humans rather HE dotes on how I worship HIM with all my heart, soul, mind and strength.

For some reason I began looking for that great feeling each year. I wanted to receive another award and be recognized as being the greatest. BUT GOD has another definition of what great is. HE simply wants me to love.

• Loving GOD with all my heart means getting rid of the foul thoughts my heart dreams up.
• Loving GOD with all my soul means depending on HIM for eternal salvation.
• Loving GOD with all my mind means guiding my intellect to follow HIM and HIS decisions.
• Loving GOD with all my strength means giving up the fight with HIM and leveraging HIS strength to fight my battles.

To love GOD is to love other people. Any act of kindness I can show others, no matter how small, is “great” in GOD’s eyes.

• Are you trying to achieve greatness in human terms?
• Do you want to be recognized for your efforts?
• Will you try filling that void in your heart by serving others today?