Breath of God

Pentecost Sunday is days away, and I had something happen a few weeks ago that brought this special day to the forefront of my thoughts.   

Confession:  I should not chew gum in public.  I'm a chomping, snapping, popping gum chewer.  It's not pretty!  I try and avoid public gum chewing, but recently I was chewing gum in my preschool class at church when a child asked me what I was eating.  (Yes, that's how bad my gum chewing can be.)

I told him that I was chewing a piece of gum.  He asked me what flavor the gum was and I replied, "Watermelon."   Then I proceeded to blow my breath on him to confirm the flavor. 

My breath filled the air and the child gave a nod of approval, confirming the flavor truly was watermelon.

That sweet and innocent nod of approval brought to mind a beautiful scripture in John 20:22 about Jesus breathing on His disciples following the resurrection.

"Peace be with you. Just as the Father 

has sent me, I also send you.” 

And after he said this, he breathed on them 

and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit..."

Another scripture about God's life-giving breath is found in Genesis 2:7 (NET). 

 The Lord God formed the man from the soil of the ground 

and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, 

and the man became a living being.

It's God's breath on us that distinguishes mankind from the rest of creation. There was nothing special about my watermelon, gum-flavored breath, but when God is the one doing the breathing--there is life.  

John 20 says, Receive the Holy Ghost.  When the breath of Jesus came into contact with those in the room, it was a sure promise of things to come.  

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit,

and they began to speak in other languages
as the Spirit enabled them.  

Acts 2:4 (NET)

May the reality of the breath of God breathing on you be a constant reminder of the words of Jesus...Receive the Holy Spirit.   

Now!