Spirit Of God

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for blind, to release the oppressed,’  Luke 4:18 (NIV)

We have heard of the Spirit of the Lord.  But what is it?  In the first chapters of Luke and throughout the Bible this mysterious Character seems to be at work.  But what does He do?  Should we stop to ponder His attributes?  Should we consider Who He is?  What makes Him so powerful?  Why is He so vital to these stories and to our entire universe?  Could we find some answers?  Or would such a mysterious Being be impossible to define?  Could we search and study for a thousand lifetimes and still not uncover all that He Is or does?

Many people come to religion to find answers to life´s most important and difficult questions.  When we have searched all of science and tested our results, are we still left with a lot of speculation and doubt?  Is then when we come to consider God, the Spirit and the Son?  When we do, does it seem that the only reaction left to us is one of wonder?  There are many who say they have all the answers.  But when the smoke clears and the explanation ends, are we still left standing in the mystical land of hope, awe and wonder?   Are these positive responses to our questions?  Are they worthy reactions for intelligent beings?  Or to call ourselves smart, should we be able to capture, calculate and deduct all the information our universe has to offer?

If someone told us that they could wrap up God in an equation, would we believe them?  If someone said that they could explain the Unseen Presence perfectly, should we think their human powers were that keen?  If someone were to say that they could prove or show us the Holy Spirit, could we admit that a force so mysterious and powerful was lying at their human fingertips and within their mortal grasp?  Or should the Divine be above all that we see?  Would God be bigger than our minds can contain?  Is our Creator more powerful than our trained brains can calculate or deduce?  Should we think that the Almighty is stronger and more far-reaching than even our languages can embrace?

When it comes to the Holy Spirit, should we attempt a full definition?  Could we put anything that comes from the Lord into a neat little package?  Could we fit Him a box or a statue?  Could we hang Him over an alter or fit Him into a physical property like water?  Would we think the Spirit is suspended and floating in the air?  Are we the ones who decide where the limits for Him lie?  Or will we have to leave those definitions, calculations and limits up to a Being big enough and clever enough to see and set them?  Will the final Word always come back to God?  In the end are we still left with a great amount of mystical wonder when we have let our own thoughts float up after the Spirit?  Does it warm our hearts to ponder such lofty pursuits?  Does it lift us up, to think of a Being, a Force, and an Intelligence that moves with the power and to the will of God?  Has our sense of wonder taken us in a full loop and brought us to more blissful wonder, awe and hope after Him?

Could we admit that it is a pretty fine and uplifting endeavor to wonder after the Spirit of the Lord?  Could we perk up our ears at every mention of His name?  Could we allow our own spirits to float up in awe and marvel in wonderful curiosity?  Would worship take on a higher quality if there were no upper limits set for us?

Dear God in Heaven, we have heard of Your marvelous Spirit.  We find no option but to wonder after Him.  Be pleased to send Him to minister unto us.  Fill us and move us by His Presence we pray.

Amen