A Human?

“Oh, I thought you were a human,” tripped through my sleepy brain. My eyes fluttered open, then shut again. Who spoke those words? Were they for me, or for someone or something else? How weird. It made no sense.

Yes, I am a human. I sat up in the silence, covers wrapped to my chin. What was the significance of this odd phrase? And why was I chewing on it? A few possibly related scenarios floated in and out of my mind: Pinocchio, Peter Pan’s shadow, a dog meeting a robot, a cat snuggled in a statue’s arms, the way my numbed self feels when life goes sideways. 

At a Bible study meeting yesterday, the words God the Holy Spirit caught my eye. When LORD Jesus departed earth, He sent His Spirit to dwell in, teach, help, and comfort believers; to remind them of all Jesus taught of God’s Truth. I know and have have experienced Holy Spirit in many ways through decades of honestly talking over my problems with Him, and relying on Him to guide and teach me. This morning, my understanding of our relationship shifted a bit. The Spirit is not a tag along to Jesus. The Holy Spirit is God. 

It might seem “elementary, my dear Watson,” yet this small revelation was another glimpse at our amazing God. As I paddle foot through my days, long to understand life’s challenges, stay afloat through relationship lessons of guilt and grief, and endeavor to land on all fours when life upends, God the Spirit loves me enough to dwell in me. 

I realized, in my dependency on and friendship with Holy Spirit, my neglect of properly worshipping Him. Not in place or form so much as in taking my intense focus off searching to understand and taking more time to honor God the Spirit, who loves and cares to live in me every second of every day. To worship Him in new ways…give back to Him. I recognize the Holiness of God the Father and Jesus the Son. How do I see the Holiness of the Spirit living within me? 

Has my comfortable intimacy with Him been reduced to, “Oh, I thought you were a human” in the sense of a casual attitude rather than holy relationship? Slogging along with less than proper gratitude for His sticking with me? Or, may I simply say “thank You” for this peace that passes all understanding…evidence of His transforming grace? 

It’s thrilling to grow deeper in the Spirit, this Third Person of the Trinity, and pour my gratitude and love back into Him. To open my heart more, become more teachable and willing for Him to grow me to be more like Christ. God the Father desires this for each of His children. LORD Jesus the Son bridged the way for intimate relationship with the Father. Holy Spirit dwells within to complete the transformation of my reborn spirit. 

What a way to wake up!

A few minutes later, still sitting in bed and thinking on these things, I had to laugh. Had God humorously let me off my self-condemnation hook with a flash of insight and a wry remark…?

 “Oh, I thought you were a human…” 

Indeed, I am. And He, Praise God, is God! 

~~~

LORD, thank You for loving and lifting me. Help me to worship You in Spirit and in Truth. To bow my heart before You in gratitude. And to know You fully. Thank You for Your  unending Love and Grace. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

John 4:23 NLT “But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.”