A couple months ago, I began reading a book by a Franciscan monk who was reflecting on the mystery of God’s nature as pointed out in the first chapter of John.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1 ESV).
Though many parts of nature may reflect an aspect of the trinity—shamrocks, the three states of water, and triangles—nothing is a complete or accurate illustration.
The closest example is probably the atom with its three parts: neutron, proton and electron. These three parts of the atom are meant to work together. Of course, modern science allows us to separate them, but they naturally want to be together.
They are three distinct parts that make a single entity, much like our God.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit—three distinct persons exist within one God. We do not worship three different gods, and our Lord is not a lonely, isolated deity. This surely has to be the strangest monotheistic religion in the world, one that embraces the contradiction of three-in-one.
Our God lives in continual relationship within himself and—most incredibly—with us.
I know God is around me and for me. He promises to go before me, to protect and guide me, comfort me, pray with groans beyond understanding for me and to speak to me. He’s there for each one of us. He’s with you, protecting you, rejoicing with you.
There’s a worship song that expresses this so beautifully:
“There’s a table that you’ve prepared for me in the presence of my enemies. It may look like I’m surrounded, but I’m surrounded by you. This is how I fight my battles.”
I used to feel a little odd about that expression in Psalm 23:5. Eating alone would be so awkward, especially in front of people who don’t like me!
Then I realized that I’m not alone at that table.
I’m sitting with my family, my community and with you. We’re together as God’s children at his table, surrounded by him: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deut. 29:29 ESV).
This is Kelly’s heart for believers everywhere, shared most recently with pastors and their wives in Kenya at the conference where her husband, Gary Wilkerson, and Nicky Cruz also spoke.