A canopy of stars watches over us day and night. The source did not identify the location, but I have seen a similar rock formation in Arches National Park, Utah. This photo is courtesy of pxhere.com, a website that offers non-copyrighted images.

March 8, 2024 / 0 comments

The Faith – Trinity

“This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one.’

  • Matthew 6:9-13

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

  • Matthew 28:19-20

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

  • Romans 8:14-17

Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

  • Galatians 4:6-7

“Not only does the true understanding of the Trinity and the nature of God lead honest, truth-seeking Muslims to Christ, but it enables you and me to live far more fulfilling and meaningful lives. The Trinity enables us to better understand the scriptural teaching that God is love. Love cannot exist without someone to love, which is why Allah and any unitary understanding leads to a cold, impersonal god. The essence of the God of the Bible is His intertwined triune nature of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The three continuously pour out love to one another and receive love in return. The Trinity exists as a perfect community of self-giving. In this life, Christians enjoy participation in this community through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and in the world to come we will be united with the Godhead in perfect love. The Trinity sums up our final hope. What could be more central to our faith?
“Our experience of the Trinity is actually a common part of everyday Christian experience. We invoke the Trinity every time we recite the Lord’s Prayer. Our heavenly Father supplies our daily bread, through Jesus Christ the Father forgives our sins, and by the power of the Holy Spirit we can overcome temptation.”

  • Charles Colson (with Harold Fickett), The Faith

This chapter of Chuck Colson’s book, which contains God’s sovereignty along with a discussion of the Trinity, is entitled God above, God beside, God within.  I like that way of explaining it.

The God above is God the Father, whether Heaven or the highest heaven is simply beyond a veil next to me, or you.  We think of God the father in Heaven, outside time and space.  There are references to the highest heaven, or multiple levels of heaven.  There is the air that we breathe, the atmosphere containing the clouds and less air, making breathing difficult or impossible, there is outer space, and then there is a heaven beyond time and space.  But really, God is minutely focused on every cell in our bodies.  Don’t worry with infinite presence and infinite power, and also residing outside time and space, God has the time for the details.  So “God above” is a convenience for us puny humans to understand, sort of.

The God beside us is Jesus, but then the Cru tracts talk of Jesus in the control center of our lives.  Many people talk of Jesus in our hearts.  But the “God beside” is another convenience, in that Jesus sits on the right hand of the father interceding for us.  It refers to Jesus as our brother, and we walk with Him.

The personal advocate, the person of the Trinity that is there to guide us and keep us from temptation is the Holy Spirit, the God within.  When we accept Jesus into our hearts, the Holy Spirit is the one who enters and starts cleaning house.

And as Chuck Colson explains, the Trinity as a whole provides the Christian with a robust Love for all occasions.  We need that God outside time and space to take care of the details.  We need that God who walks beside and when we need it, we get a swift kick in the pants but equally, we get the hug that we need.  And if your attention span is as terrible as mine, or a lot worse, we need that guide, that advocate, that can be our God in every situation and every circumstance.  Each person of the Trinity is approachable because God is Love.

Lord, show me what are the foundations of “the Faith.” You are three distinct persons, but all one God.  It is hard to wrap our heads around that one, but we need all three to help us through life in this world.  Thank You for being above, reigning, and looking at the details.  Thank You for walking beside me.  And thank You for living within me.  I would not have the strength to carry on otherwise.  In Your name I pray.  Amen.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.

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