22 April 2022
A threefold blessing
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit… ”
John 20:21-22 (NIV)
I’m sure we all celebrate the fact that Jesus came into the world in human form, that he died for our sins, that he was resurrected to glory, and that he has returned to heaven to minister on our behalf. Of course, this was not something he did independently of God the Father, and the Holy Spirit. In the opening scripture we see Jesus, the Son of God the Father, carrying out the Father’s commission, and the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son.
However, there’s more to this section of scripture than a glimpse into how the Godhead works. Jesus invites his disciples to join in with the work that God (Father, Son and Spirit) is doing. Theologian Thomas Torrance tells us that God ‘takes us into communion with himself’.1 We see in scripture the amazing oneness of the three persons of the Trinity, and we are invited to join God in this intimate, loving relationship.
In my ministry role, I am seeing people coming along to Church for the first time, new leaders being trained, and new congregations and ministries beginning. At the same time I see some congregations getting smaller and some ceasing to exist. Through all of this, God’s in charge, and it’s his work for him to do as he pleases. In reality what happens in our churches is not anything we do of our own strength, wisdom, or initiative, because actually we’re joining with God in the work he is doing.
I have a minister friend who leads a GCI congregation in Llanelli, Wales, who does a wonderful work ministering to homeless people and those battling addictions. While donations, volunteers and service users may ebb and flow, through all of it my friend regularly points upwards and says, ‘It’s his work!’ While God works out his purposes on a far higher plain than we can comprehend, he has invited us along for the ride! What an amazing privilege, to be intimately loved by the great Almighty God, and to join him in the work he is doing!
Prayer
Father, thank you that you love us more than we can understand or imagine. Thank you that you sent your Son, Jesus, to save us, and that you sent your Spirit to be with us. Thank you that you invite us to live in communion with you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Study by Anthony Dady
1 The Christian Doctrine of God, One Being Three Persons by Thomas F. Torrance, page 152
About the writer:
Anthony Dady is a Minister in Grace Communion International and is the Regional Pastor for Wales, the Midlands, and Northern England.
Local congregation:
GCI Northampton
Ecton Village Hall
78A High Street
Ecton
Northampton
NN6 0QB
Meeting time:
Saturday 10:30am
Local congregational contact:
Gavin Henderson
Email: gavin.henderson@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church