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Point of Reference

    by Fred Price

BREATHE
Date Posted: May 20, 2011

Sometimes we say things we don’t really mean, often as a result of anger, in an attempt to impress someone or to simply disguise the truth. It happens as well in church as we sing praise choruses to a God we don’t really know but want to impress none-the-less. One of the more insightful being “Breathe”1. It’s not complicated musically or lyrically, but if sung with conviction and understanding can be extremely powerful.

“This is the air I breathe, this is the air I breathe;” The first breath of air we take at birth signifies life, supplying the oxygen our bodies must have to sustain our existence. The first man, Adam, received his first breath of life-giving air – essentially God’s spirit – from God himself. “…the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7 The breath of life referred to in this chorus as, “Your holy presence living in me.”

Is his presence living in you? Do you crave the influence of his life-giving breath within you? Adam was nothing but a lump of clay – as are we all without that spark of life that makes us unique as humans – the introduction of God’s personal involvement in our lives. Paul did and as a result exclaimed, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” Galatians 2:20 Which can only be fully realized when we understand his statement of, “…when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10 But what does that really mean? When we’ve done all we know to do, when we no longer have all the answers, when we stop demanding our own way in life and give ourselves over to the Lord to be used completely as he sees fit; then and only then will we realize peace, acceptance, significance and success on a scale never dreamed of or achieved before.

“This is my daily bread, this is my daily bread;” Food, sustenance – that which give us energy for life, maintaining mental alertness and ability to function; the second overwhelming instinct at birth after breathing – the craving for food, giving to us the possibility of continued life. Identified in this chorus as, “Your very Word spoken to me.”

This brings to mind Jesus’ assertion that, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4 (echoing Deuteronomy 8:3) And his claim that, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35 Jesus, the Word made flesh (John 1:1-14), “…the exact representation of (God’s) being.” Hebrews 1:3; that which must become a part of our moral fabric – becoming the essence of who we are – not by merely acquainting ourselves casually with him but by immersing ourselves in Him. We do this by partaking of His essence, “consuming” Christ and thus making him a part of our very being. (John 6:1-63) Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness? (Matthew 5:6) The righteousness to be found only in a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ?

We continue singing, “I’m desperate for You. I’m lost without You.” Desperate, as when we are deprived of air and are about to suffocate; we thrash about, seeking release and relief, pushing away that which obstructs and hinders, frantically striving to fill our lungs with air – to breathe or die. And lost, as if starving. We weaken physically and are dulled mentally; we become willing to do anything within our power to obtain food and drink to sustain life. We are desperate! To merely hunger and thirst is too mild, to crave not yet saying it – we become desperate for that which will sustain and empower us for life – the presence and power of the Lord.

But what does that mean on a practical level? Do we do nothing but meditate and pray, piously going our way with no hindrance of family, job, or “outside” interests? No, we mustn’t seclude ourselves in an attempt to be separate from the world’s evil; removing ourselves as a source of light for the world as well. (Matthew 5:14-16) But nothing will be as good as it should be until and unless our relationship with God has first place in our lives. Only then will we be empowered to love, to do, to become the best we can be for ourselves and others. (Matthew 22:37-40 and Mark 17:29-31)

Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Matthew 6:24 (Or anything else that takes precedence over God and his will for our lives.) We must realize that if we, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,…” all other concerns and needs will be provided for. (Matthew 6:33) Many things can distract us from a lifestyle of righteousness and John warns us to not, “…love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not in him. For everything in the world – the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he sees and does – comes not from the Father but from the world.” 1 John 2:15,16

We need rather to suffer a holy distraction, a conscience ill at ease when we neglect our study of scripture, a sense of loss when we fail to worship, a feeling of impotence when we neglect to pray for guidance and inability when we ignore his counsel, a desperation to breathe in his presence and feed on his word. He is our creator (Colossians 1:16), “the author and perfector of our faith,” (Hebrews 12:2), “sustaining all things by his powerful word.” (Hebrews 1:3b) In response, let’s do, “…whatever (we) do, whether in word or deed, (doing) it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,… to the glory of God.” Colossians 3:17 and 1 Corinthians 10:31

1 “Breathe” – Marie Barnett c1995 Mercy / Vineyard Pub. (ASCAP)

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Biography Information:

Fred Price - married (50 years), father of two grown children, grandfather of six.

Fred retired earlier this year after 42 years as a factory worker.  He has always had a heart for young people and the challenges they face today.  Over the years Fred has taught Discipleship Groups for High School and college students.  

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