As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment, heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. (Matthew 3:16-17)
I’ve had the privilege of playing in one PGA Pro-Am, at a Champions Tour event many years ago. I was concerned because my golf game does not hold up to being displayed in front of a gallery, but I caught two “lucky” breaks: we had an early-morning tee time, so there was a small group of spectators. And I managed a decent drive off the first tee.
Most pro-ams put together one professional with three amateurs. And if they are open to it, playing with a pro offers an opportunity to receive help during the round. It might be things they notice about your setup or your swing, or maybe advice on executing a difficult shot. Having a pro on your side can be a big help.
In his book “Practicing the Presence of Jesus,” Links co-founder Wally Armstrong points out that while a Pro-Am is one pro matched up with three amateurs, in the game of life, it’s the exact opposite.
As Wally notes: “We have on our team – present always – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are the pros, and I am the amateur.” We are indeed blessed to have all three, also known as the Trinity, working on our behalf.
When someone asks you to explain the Trinity, how do you respond? How do you explain our belief in one God, but with three distinct identities, each fully God and equally God?
It’s not an easy question to answer. Go to the Bible and look for the word Trinity, and you will come up empty; though the word is not found, the reality of the Trinity is everywhere in Scripture.
I think it’s fair to say that the Trinity is one of those things about God that our finite minds cannot fully comprehend; a concept that we can’t entirely fathom in our heads, but that we believe in our hearts.
So why three in one? This short devotional can’t really do justice to the subject, but let’s try. Let’s start with God, the Father. He is the initiator and source of all things, who planned the act of creation and the plan of salvation, accomplished by sending his Son into the world.
God the Son is Jesus Christ, the Word of God made flesh, who redeemed humanity by living a sinless life, dying on the cross, and resurrecting. He is the mediator between the Father and humanity.
God, the Holy Spirit, is the personal presence of God active in the world, convicting people of sin, empowering them to live righteously, and sanctifying them. The Holy Spirit brings comfort and serves as a witness to Jesus.
We see their roles displayed in the act of prayer. We pray to the Father. We pray through the Son, our mediator & intercessor. And the Spirit helps us pray, even when we don’t know what to pray for. (Romans 8:26-27)
Most importantly, the Trinity gives us a perfect example of working together in cooperation, selflessness, and love. That’s a model that we should all strive to follow.
Prayer: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. We thank you for the gift of your Son, who saves, and for the gift of the Spirit, who empowers. Amen