Three In One

Three In One

You know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Acts 10:38

Long before I studied medicine, I studied chemistry. In class, we used mathematical equations to explain the properties of elements. Depending on the environment the element was in, the properties could be very different.

For example, we studied how water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit or 100 degrees Celsius when it is at sea level. But in the same location with a different temperature—say 32 degrees Fahrenheit (or zero degrees Celsius)—the water becomes solid ice.

Just as water can exist in three different forms—liquid, solid, and gas—we have a God whose essence doesn’t change, but who reveals himself to us in the form of three distinct persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Today’s verse refers to how God the Father anointed Jesus the Son with power from the Holy Spirit. This gives us a picture of the three persons of the triune God we worship. They are one and the same yet different.

Just as water has different functions in its various forms—ice preserves, water replenishes, and steam purifies—we depend on the differing functions of the three persons of the Trinity.

In what ways do the different expressions of the triune God preserve, replenish, or purify us? I believe it’s like physical chemistry: It depends on the specific environment—physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual. In the end, regardless of the environment, we need all three aspects of God’s presence for our complete spiritual health.

TODAY’S RX

Does your faith feel stale? Consider how each person of the Trinity could help to preserve, replenish, or purify your soul and spirit.

Thank you, Father, for how you have preserved your Word in my heart and whisper it to me in just the right moments, for how you have replenished me with hope from the Holy Spirit for the days ahead, and for how you have purified me from my sin through the shedding of your Son’s blood. I am forever grateful.