“Zephyr knows he’s not supposed to get into the garbage. Is he sinning when he does that?”
“Does Zephyr need to confess his sins?”
My daughter has a fierce attachment to our beloved Aussiedoodle. She was very little when we brought him home as a puppy and they’ve sort of grown up together. More than anyone else in the family, Zephyr treats our daughter like a litter-mate. The two of them seem to have their own language.
I think it’s that close relationship that brought on this newest series of questions. Our daughter knows Zephyr won’t live as long as the rest of us. So, we weren’t surprised when she started asking questions about Zephyr’s spirituality and his eternal destination.
The Imago Dei
As much as I want to assure my daughter that we will get to spend eternity with Zephyr, I honestly don’t know. What I do know is when God created animals, he spoke them into being. They hold dignity and value as created beings. However, and this is important, God did not breathe life into them. He merely spoke the word and they came into existence.
The creation of man was strikingly different.
Genesis 1:26-27 brings us into a discussion within the Trinity:
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
This is where we get the term “Imago Dei” — made in the image of God. We are image-bearers of our Creator God.
Genesis 2:7 tells us more about our creation:
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.
Humans came into existence by the act of God breathing into man.
Those are two uniquely human distinctions: being image-bearers of God and being breathed into life by the breath of God.
When we sin, we are marring the image of God and breaking our relationship with our Creator. (Romans 3:23). We must confess in order to return into right relationship with God (1 John 1:9).
Zephyr, and all pets, are neither Imago Dei or breathed into life. They cannot sin and need not confess.
Every Breath is a Miracle
During my most recent lung bleed, each breath was a gurgley struggle. For complicated reasons, the only option was to wait it out and hope my body would continue to fight. Every single breath was a miracle keeping me alive for another 10 seconds, and another 10 seconds, and another.
Without breath, living stops. This is why the first and most important skill taught to EMT’s and Paramedics is the assessment of the ABCs: Airway, Breathing, Circulation. Notice the order, breathing comes before blood circulation.
Breath is vital.
The Music of Breathing
Perhaps it is my lifelong battle with breathing that draws me to music about breath.
Perhaps it is the connection between breathing and communicating. God breathed life into Adam then communed with him in the Garden of Eden (Gen 3), speaking — with breath!
Perhaps it is that the breath of God on believers represents the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus, after his resurrection, breathed on the disciples it was an act of giving them the Holy Spirit.
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. – John 20:21-22
Poetry and songs about the breath of God have been written for centuries. My own impulse is to draw near to “breath” lyrics. If you are like me, then consider these songs of worship, old and new. May they fill you with a fresh awareness of God’s power and presence in you. {Click to listen to these songs in one PLAYLIST.}
As Long As I Have Breath – Sovereign Grace Music
As long as I have breath I will praise You
As long as my heart beats I will sing
As long as life flows in my veins
I will bless Your name
Breath of heaven
Hold me together
Be forever near me
Breath of heaven
Lighten my darkness
Pour over me your holiness
For you are holy
Breath of heaven
This is the air I breathe
This is the air I breathe
Your holy presence living in me
Sweep this distance away
Pull me close to Your face
Surround me with Your gentle holy breeze
Breathe on me
Breathe on Me, Breath of God – Hatch
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
fill me with life anew,
that I may love the way you love,
and do what you would do.
Breathing the Breath – Matt Redman
Lord, we’re breathing the breath
That You gave us to breathe
To worship You, to worship You
And we’re singing these songs
With the very same breath
To worship You, to worship You
And all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God
Great Are You Lord – All Sons & Daughters
It’s Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise to You only
Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God – Stuart Townsend
Holy Spirit, living breath of God,
Breathe new life into my willing soul.
Bring the presence of the risen Lord,
To renew my heart and make me whole.
Let Everything That Has Breath – Matt Redman
Let ev’rything that, ev’rything that
Ev’rything that has breath praise the Lord
Oh I won’t let the Rocks
Cry out in my Place
No, We Return the Breath
You gave with our Praise
Awaken all my soul
Every breath that you take is a miracle
Life is short; I wanna live it well
And you’re the one I’m living for
Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me – CityAlight
With every breath I long to follow Jesus
For He has said that He will bring me home
And day by day I know He will renew me
Until I stand with joy before the throne
Do you have an additional favorite song about the breath of God? Please share it in the Comment Box below so we can all be blessed by it.
Like playlists? I made this playlist to focus on God’s comforting presence. These songs are the finest balm.
May I send these to you?
Next
5 Purposes for Your Suffering
BlogNicole O’MearaJanuary 31, 2023suffering, endurance, Job
Republished with permission from Blogs.crossmap.com, featuring inspiring Bible verses about The Breath of God – 13 Worship Songs {playlist included} — Nicole O’Meara.
