Partners
In Hope

The Longing Spirit

Friday January 25, 2013


The word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. 5 Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low, the crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. 6 And all people will see God’s salvation.’  (Luke 3:2-6 NIV)

There is something inside each of us that calls us towards a spiritual life.  God has placed that longing there.  It’s a legitimate wondering and desiring for something more than what we see.  Each of us would do well to prioritize the seeking of a spiritual life with God that we were created for.  All the rest of our being will be “out of sync” until we find it.

Many religions around the world, from Mormons to people in various New Age philosophies, encourage people to “find the god within.”  Sadly, there is no god within for us to find on our own.  As surely as a beautiful arrangement of cut flowers will die in a few days or weeks, so we will die because there is no life within us, on our own.

John was speaking of something quite different.  He was pointing people to the creator of the universe who calls each of us to acknowledge our need for a source of life.  That source of life came to earth, came close to us, and made the love of God fully accessible to us.  His name is Jesus.  We come alive only when we turn away from the insanity of trying to live as the gods of our own lives and invite Jesus to come into our lives and fill us with grace and truth.  God is ready and willing today to give us forgiveness and life if we turn to him for saving and healing.  God comes to live with those who are humble.  We will never be gods but we can be filled with the life of God that lives forever.   

  Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6 NIV)

Audio for The Longing Spirit

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