Although the Genesis account does not contain the words “human spirit,” it is where we begin to develop an understanding of our capacities to be fully human and completely capable of interacting and containing the divine nature of God.

CREATION  Genesis 2:7 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

Simplified Declaration: A person created in God’s image and likeness is unique among all of creation because of the breath of life they are given.

Amplified Explanation: The spirit of a man is an undeniable yet unidentifiable charter member of what it means to be human. The human spirit in ways that we cannot yet scientifically quantify is the preeminent element in our ability to define what we mean by a person, made in God’s image. Although a prenatal ultrasound nor a postmortem autopsy have yet to detect the existence of a human spirit, we unquestionably bump into the presence of the human spirit in remarkable everyday encounters. I think we discover the spirit of a person most of the time through what we may refer to as attitude. Our attitude will seek to manifest itself in various ways depending on both our internal and external state of affairs. The human spirit is the transcendent characteristic that distinguishes a person from every other creature or created thing in heaven or on earth.

Life of Jesus: Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit became incarnate from the virgin Mary and was made man. His manner of life, the power of his words and the miracles he performed were a clear indication of the work of the Holy Spirit (divine nature) operating through his human spirit (human nature). When Jesus died he committed his spirit back to God and then breathed his last breath.

Prayer: Creator of all that is, seen and unseen. Create in me a clean and sacred heart, O God. Purify and renew a right spirit within me. Awaken me to the reality that you created me because you love me. I know that I am miraculously and amazingly made in your image and likeness. Thank you for my life.

Questions for Contemplation

1. What is the significance of God breathing into us?
2. When is the breath of God given to a person?
3. How do we recognize the spirit of a person? (personality traits, gifting, attitude, etc.)
4. How can we and why should we nurture our human spirit?