Day 6: Breath of God
Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being (Genesis 2:7).
Our Father in heaven, author and sustainer of all life, through You all creation exists and thrives—For in You we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). All creatures look to You...When You hide Your face, they are terrified; when You take away their breath, they die and return to the dust. When You send Your Spirit, they are created, and You renew the face of the ground (Psalm 104: 27, 29-30).
In the beginning You elevated the lowly dust of the ground—breathing into it the very breath of God—making it a living being. But dust, in ungrateful rebellion, raised itself above the shelter of Your authority, and chose to return to dust—to exchange the life of God for the sting of death.
And yet, Almighty Triune God, in the Oneness of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, You brought renewal and restoration, and a new creation. Perfect, sinless, God, in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ was sent from the Father—was born of the Spirit—entered the world of sinful humanity—so He could redeem us from the corruption of the flesh.
"Flesh gives birth to flesh," our Lord taught, "but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at My saying, ‘You must be born again’" (John 3:6-7).
By Your sacrificial death, You offered this new birth, and deliverance from dust, and death, and decay, and corruption. And after You had provided purification for sins, You sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven (Hebrews 1:3).
But You did not leave us powerless and defenseless—You breathed the life of Your Spirit over us. You elevated us from dust for all eternity, and transformed us into a new creation to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. ...The One who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come (2 Corinthians 5:4-5).
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In Your great mercy You have given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade (1 Peter 1:3-4).
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