Reading With the People of God #15 PurposeSample

Breath, Purpose, and the Life of the Spirit

As the book of Ecclesiastes draws to a close, the Preacher calls us to remember our Creator while we’re still young—before age, sorrow, and the end of life come. It’s a poetic, sobering reflection on our mortality, culminating in a powerful image:

“The dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it” (Eccl. 12:7 ESV).

We’re reminded that the breath in our lungs is not our own—it is a gift, entrusted to us by the Giver.

Today, as you read, you’re also invited to watch the BibleProject’s video on the Holy Spirit, which helps bring this verse into sharper focus. The Spirit is not only the breath of life that animates creation but also the personal presence of God, empowering us to live with purpose and hope. Far from being an abstract force, the Spirit is the one who renews, fills, and transforms us.

This makes Paul’s closing chapters in Colossians even more powerful. In chapters 3–4, we’re called to set our minds on things above, to put off the old self, and to put on the new, clothed in compassion, kindness, and love. This isn’t about moral effort alone; it’s about living Spirit-empowered lives that reflect the reality of Christ within us.

Today’s readings remind us that purpose is not found in chasing after wind, but in being filled with the Spirit and rooted in Christ.

Reflection Question:
Where in your life do you need to be reminded that your breath, your purpose, and your strength come from God’s Spirit?

Prayer of Illumination:
Creator God, breathe your Spirit freshly into me today. As I read your Word, help me remember that I am not my own—I belong to you. Teach me to live with eternal purpose, clothed in Christ and filled with your presence. Amen.