2nd June 2023
1 + 1 + 1 = 1
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
2 Corinthians 13:14 (NIV)
Paul, the writer of 2 Corinthians, obviously appreciated the amazing reality of God in three persons forming the one God. Although we may not be able to make complete sense of it, scripture proclaims the three-in-one and one-in-three nature of God. And when we begin to look at God this way, we can better appreciate his work. If Jesus were simply an agent of God, coming down to earth on God’s behalf, we could not have the intimate relationship with God that comes from Jesus being Immanuel – God with us. (Matthew 1:23). If the Holy Spirit were not God, the comforter or advocate Jesus promised, after he ascended, would have been a very disappointing substitute. (John 14:16, 26).
However, the good news is that all three persons of the Trinity are equally God, they equally love us, equally minister to us and equally want to enter into a relationship with us. Of course, God is working in our lives whether or not we understand or appreciate it, although his desire is that we acknowledge the reality of his presence and choose to embrace his love and live in relationship with him.
And the good news of this connection of God with humanity is not just for those of us who have believed and accepted it; the truth is that God so loves the people of this world that Jesus died for our forgiveness and reconciliation to him long before any of us could comprehend what had been done on our behalf. So, just as there is an intimate relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, God’s desire is that all people enter into and participate in that intimate relationship with him.
So, let’s try to better understand and value the distinctives and oneness of the Father, Son and Spirit, and the desire of God to deliver us from our sinfulness and to live in intimate relationship with all people. While we may not fully grasp the mystery of God’s being, a glimpse into the reality of his nature and desires will fill us with awe, wonder, appreciation and joy. So this Trinity Sunday, let’s celebrate God in his fullness and give thanksgiving, praise, and honour to him.
Prayer
Father, thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, and for the Holy Spirit who came to be with us after Jesus’ ascension. Please help us to understand your nature better, and as a result grow more in love with you, and in appreciation of you and what you have done for us, and for all humanity. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Study by Anthony Dady
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
Local congregational contact:
Maggie Mitchell
Email: maggie.mitchell@btinternet.com
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church