The Breath of God

Jesus said, "Be perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect."  He did not say, "I know it's not possible, but do the best you can."  He did not say, "Try to be perfect" (Thank goodness! -- I would give up before I got started on this one.)  He is a Realist; not a dreamer. 

So what on earth was He talking about?  Exactly the same thing He spoke of to Nicodemus:  that which is born of flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Do not wonder that I say to you, 'You must be born again.'  The wind blows where it will, and you hear its sound but do not know where it comes from or where it goes.  So is everyone who is born of the Spirit (JN.3:6-8).

When Nicodemus came to Christ at night, he was like the Apostle Paul: "a doctor of the Law who moves at ease among the minute details of ritual prescriptions and the subtleties of rabbinical interpretations."*  Nicodemus recognized in Jesus the spirit of God at work, and he came seeking from Jesus a doctrine so that he could be a follower of this way of life, this spirit he recognized in Jesus.  He wanted to be a disciple.

And Jesus recognized in Nicodemus the heart of a disciple, a desire for purity, humility, and truth.  These things are not "acquired;" they are given, bestowed on us by the Spirit Who lives within us.  Jesus did not give Nicodemus a new 'rule' of life to follow; He told him to seek the New Birth.  Now what follows is very interesting -- Jesus speaks of the wind and then says, "So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." 

We cannot tell what and how the Spirit will work in us once we surrender.  We cannot follow a regimen of prayer and fasting and almsgiving that will control the action of the Holy Spirit -- although by denying the 'flesh' and its demands, and turning to God, we can open ourselves to the work of the Spirit.    Jesus says to Nicodemus, "Thou art a teacher in Israel, and do not know these things?"  Wow!  And Nicodemus, startled though he may be, accepts Jesus' words and 'casts down his poor learning before the transcendence of the Master's.  Now light floods his soul --- it was the same experience that Saul had on the road to Damascus. 

Spiritual rebirth does not come through learned study; recall my vision yesterday of the great King breathing into the face of the infant.  Spiritual rebirth comes through surrender to the breath of God, the wind that blows not where we will, but where the Spirit wills.  We cannot tell where, how, or when God will act; we must wait humbly and expectantly for His action how, when, where He wills.

"Be ye perfect...."  It is Jesus who came to fulfill the law perfectly, and He is the Author and Finisher of our faith.  We surrender our souls to Him in poverty of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding; we allow Him to lead us as He will -- and He will never disappoint or fail us.  He is sufficient for every circumstance, every condition, and He says, "Be not afraid; I am your shield and your very great reward" -- the same words spoken to Abraham from the beginning.

When the Holy Spirit begins to operate in us, we are often very surprised at the place where He begins -- it is never the place we thought we needed to work on.  It is usually in the deepest areas of our hearts that He begins to work at first, the areas not easily accessible to us.  And we often find 'the gift of tears' releasing those long-held-in hurts and sorrows. 

We will not understand always the work of the Spirit in our souls, but we can trust Him Who sends the Spirit to us.  Surrender, Trust, Hope, and Breathe in the Breath of God.