As promised I’m kicking off the blogging thing here with a few thoughts. I’m trying to put into practice what this post is all about 🙂
Job 32:8 But [there is] a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
All humans have a spirit. In fact all animals have a spirit, because when Noah took animals into the ark, he took all those that had the breath (spirit) of life, which is the same word used here in Job for what is in man. This makes me about as good as animals, and with about as much understanding. There are some pretty clever animals who can work out how to do what’s best for themselves, and I do likewise with my natural understanding.
However, there is another kind of breath. The inspiration of the Almighty is a puff, a wind, a breath which gives me understanding. Animals have no higher understanding available to them, but I do.
Job 32:9 Great men are not [always] wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.
Surprise! Wisdom and knowing judgment don’t correspond to importance or age. Instead they correspond to the inspiration of the Almighty. The purpose for His inspiration is to enable all status levels and age groups to be wise and to understand right from wrong. Without the inspiration of the Almighty, all my clever schemes for taking care of myself count as having no understanding at all, because I can become a great person or an old person and still be foolish (but of course wise in my own sight).
So how do I get His inspiration? Well it turns out I got it when I was born again. God breathed his breath of life into me and I became a living being. I became able to see the kingdom of God. Then when I received the baptism in the Holy Spirit his wind blew, stronger, and my understanding was deepened. Why then do I sometimes feel like I don’t understand at all? Could it be because I’m not breathing out? Inhaling is all very well, but in order to continue to breathe I have to exhale for my lungs to then be filled again. I can only hold my breath for so long before the oxygen is consumed and the air in my lungs does me no good. God has filled me with his inspiration, but unless I breathe out and inspire others, what He has given me will only benefit me for a while.
Inspiring others is vital if I expect to grow in wisdom and understanding right from wrong. By inspiring I don’t mean causing positive emotions. I mean challenging myself to show God’s life and speak His words to others all day, every day, in different and unexpected ways, until it’s just as much part of me as breathing. Then the Almighty will keep breathing into me.