NPC Weekly Devotional
for the Week of January 11th - January 17th, 2009
for the Week of January 11th - January 17th, 2009
| Scripture Reading: | |
| - | Genesis 1:1-5 |
| - | Psalm 29 |
| - | Acts 19:1-7 |
| - | Mark 1:4-11 |
In the gospel lesson for this week we are reminded that the Bible is down to earth, grounded in the real, tactile, fleshy world. Here we hear the flow of the river water, feel the touch of clothing made from camel’s hair, taste a diet of bugs, bend down to tie our shoes, and watch as a bird comes through an interesting weather phenomenon. All this in contrast to a faith and worship that is all so abstract.
Did you ever ask exactly how that dove descended? Most often we see, in our minds eye, the gently descending dove that artist paint. But what of birds that dive-bomb. It would seem to me that a dive-bombing Holy Spirit fits with the accompanying “torn apart” sky. As we baptize sweet little babies I think we neglect to realize the uncomfortable implications of inviting God’s Spirit to invade our lives.
When we think of the Spirit, we tend to think of something that is lighter than air. C.S. Lewis once told an audience that for Christians “spirit” is not lighter than matter, but heavier. Genesis and the Gospel of John would remind us that spirit is that which is tied to the action of creation, redemption and reconciliation. Yet Spirit is also tied to material – real water, real bread, real juice made from real grapes, the beautiful white baptismal outfits of our infants, or the clothing of adults. We are filled with the Spirit in church and that same Spirit then drives us from the church. Outside the confines of the physical church, we then wrestle with the beasts and pray for the ministering angels.