 God’s world is so much different than my world. The way He chooses to do things is so much better than the way I do things.
In my world, if expectations are not met the consequences are negative. When our children were growing up, an unpleasant summertime activity was weeding the garden. There was a greater success if there was a specific reward when the weeding was complete. If the garden was weeded in the morning I would take them swimming, or some reward for their success. If they breached the unwritten contract there would be a new contract without a reward and perhaps a punishment. Because they did not finish weeding, they were not going swimming and they had to clean their rooms instead. God operates much differently. Jeremiah 33:31-32 “The time is coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord. Right now I would be holding my breath wondering what harder task is ahead because of failing to do what God wanted us to do in the first written contract or covenant. But God’s new covenant is BETTER than the old covenant. God begins to explain that the sacrifices will end because Jesus will be the perfect sacrifice for our sins on the cross. Jesus will be our High Priest whom we can have a relationship with God through, not just the priests in the temple. The Holy Spirit will be God’s guide in our minds and hearts. Jeremiah 31:33-34 “This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Instead of a more restrictive or punishing covenant, God gave us a SUPERIOR covenant. I am glad God is in charge and not me, because I need to operate more like God in my life.
1 Comment
 After spending more time thinking about the location of the Trinity, I realize the flaws in my considerations.
Flaw #1 God is limited to His throne in heaven. God is Spirit. He is not bound by time nor space. The God the Father is seated on the throne in the heavenlies and He is everywhere at the same time. John 4:24 “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” Flaw #2 Jesus Christ is limited to His throne at the right hand of the Father. Jesus Christ, while He was on this earth was under the rules that humans experience, but in His glorified body He is once again a Spirit-being. Now, where two or more gather in Jesus’ name, He is with them and with others groups of two or more all over the world and is seated at the right hand of God the Father. John 17:5 “And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” Flaw #3 The Trinity without oneness. The Trinity is three in one and one in three. They have unique roles, but they share attributes of the Godhead: omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotence. I still consider the person of the Holy Spirit is under-valued, under-utilized and under-loved among most Christians today. Why? The Holy Spirit is misunderstood. The experience of Pentecost, tongues, fire-like flames, filling, and indwelling have become a confusion of terms and experiences. God the Father formed and made all things. Jesus Christ the perfect Son was sacrificed so that our relationship with the Father may be restored. The Holy Spirit is available for us to live pure, powerful lives here and now. What is helpful to you in understanding the Trinity, their function, and their oneness? Comment here. |
Mark Radeke
Husband of one, father of five, pastor and friend of many. Archives
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