Firm Foundation: Certain Hope in Uncertain Timesサンプル

[IMAGE CONTENT] # Day 3: The Dove When I wrote the song, “The Dove,” with my wife Kari and our friends Austin and Andrew, we wanted to connect the image of the Holy Spirit as a dove throughout scripture. Verse one of the song reflects this, unveiling the story of creation in Genesis and the Holy Spirit’s role in it. > God was there at the beginning > His Spirit brooding like a dove > Spoke the earth into existence > Formed creation that He loved > Man was born of perfect image > Made to be a friend of God > Meant to dwell within His presence > Yeah it’s where we all belong Verse two carries on this theme, touching on the Holy Spirit’s symbolic representation through a dove after the flood. And finally, the dove resting on the “vine” Himself, Jesus Christ. > When sin had spoiled creation > The Creator sent a flood > On the cusp of new beginning > He again released the dove > And after all the searching > It found a place to land > On Christ the perfect son > Who would redeem it all again > Looking for the branches it landed on the vine > The One for our redemption > Who would bridge eternal life One thing I noticed when writing this song is how the dove in scripture is present in moments of new creation and affirmation. In Genesis 1, we see the Holy Spirit breathing creation to life, followed by the affirmation of God when He says, “It is good.” Then, in Genesis 8, we see the dove sent out to find a place to land, reappearing in Matthew 3 when the Holy Spirit as a dove descends on Jesus as God declares: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased (v.17, NKJV).” But that’s not the end of the Holy Spirit’s story, and it’s reflected in the third verse of the song. > It is not by my own earning > To have the helper at my side > The gift was fully purchased > When the lamb was crucified > So now freely I can ask Him > For His blood has washed me clean > Let the dove of heaven rest upon the Christ in me Now, through Jesus, and the victory of his blood, you and I are the new creation. And we are affirmed by the Father. Through His grace, He declares over us: “This is my son. This is my daughter… In whom I am well pleased!” So boldly we can pray, “May the dove of heaven rest upon the Christ in me!”