Post a comment
It was a festive mood along Jackson Ave last night when Susan and I went out for our Anniversary. It was the annual “wine walk.” I noticed that people smile more when you give away stuff. We ate a Brix. The people were friendly and the food was good. Then we walked two blocks over to “Raise Your Glass” where Shaphen works – you know our middle son. Every time I see him he is skinnier! He has lost more weight! He is now within 15 pounds of his dad! And boy does he look good! John and Colleen’s band “The Dixonville Chicks” were playing, so we had a duel reason to stop by. Shaphen was glad to see us, but he satirically said, “Oh yeah. You come up here to see them, but not me.” “No,” I said, “We came by so you could wish us a happy anniversary!” “Oops! Someone really needs to remind me of stuff like that!” We listened to about three songs and talked with Shaphen for a little while and then we were on our way back home. Not a bad anniversary night.
Today's Scripture reading is 1 Samuel 18; Hosea 6; Romans 14
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.podbean.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com
Today’s thought comes from 1 Corinthians 15: 35 But someone will say, "How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?" 45 as it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual… 49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.
How do you know if you have soul, man? I suppose if you can move and groove to jazz or something like that man! How do you know if you have spirit? “fight, fight, fight! Go, go, go!” It must be contagious, because everyone is shouting… at least when your team is winning the game. That’s team spirit. But the Bible use of “soul” and “spirit” are quite different than that! They are terms which describe the basic components of this life and the next. Soul is the central principle of existence in this life; Spirit is the central principle of existence in the next life. “Adam became a “living being” or literally a “living soul.” The word soul has nothing to do with all that jazz. Soul (psuche) could be translated the “breath of life.” When Adam was created God breathed breath into his body to animate him and make him alive. We are living, breathing, carbon based life forms. Once you quit breathing, you’re done; this life is over. One of the central principles of existence in this life is that you had better “breathe, breathe, my pasty friend!” Spirit is the central principle of existence in the next life. Jesus became a life giving spirit. Many people are confused by the use of the term spirit. They think that it means we won’t have a body any more, but instead we will be a spirit, like a ghost. But Spirit has to do with the way our bodies are animated. Soul can be translated “breath” and Spirit (pneumatikos) can also be translated “breath” or “wind.” Instead of being soulish, in the resurrection we will be spirit filled. The basic principle of life will have changed! Soul is the earthly, smog filled, disease carrying breath of terminal life that will one day take its last gasp. Spirit is the heavenly, reinvigorating breath of eternal life that renews life perpetually. The beauty of the central principle of existence in the next life is that, like the mythical fountain of youth, once breathed upon by God, it is regenerational! Soul life subjects us to entropy, deterioration and death. Spirit breath is life giving, life sustaining and eternally renewing! You get that from Jesus. Let Him breathe on you and say, “Receive the Spirit!”
Dear Spirit. Come and fill this life of mine. I anxiously await the day when I pass the doorway of death and you breathe your life into this body to bring vitality, fullness and eternal joy to me. That is what it is all about. This life is but a shadow compared to the sunshine of your presence.
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus
|
