2 Cor.13:14 – The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
This verse clearly and simply describes the work of the Blessed Trinity; the riches of the Father’s love for us, the amazing and overwhelming grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the comfort and joy that floods our lives through the intimate communion of the Holy Spirit. Throughout different seasons of my life each one of the persons in the Godhead have been significant to me. When I was first converted Jesus became so real and profound in my life. His life, ministry, miracles, and death became the focus of my life. Then there were seasons when I felt flawed and inept trying to be a husband, a father, and a pastor. I found strength learning to come to the Father for His love. Then there were seasons of outpouring where I became entranced with the wonderful Holy Spirit. He became more and more real to me in every part of my life. Here are some comments about our relationship with the Trinity from the ESV Expository Commentary.
“The Puritan John Owen famously wrote on how believers can commune distinctly with each person of the Trinity. He argued that we commune with God the Son primarily through grace, with God the Father primarily through love, and with God the Holy Spirit primarily through comfort. Owen’s book is the rich exposition that this verse deserves, mapping on cleanly to Paul’s categories here. There is one God in three persons, and these three persons are to be engaged in distinct ways: the Son by enjoying the lavish he loves to pour out on needy sinners and sufferers by virtue of his perfect life, atoning death, and triumphant resurrection; the Father by receiving the ocean of love that naturally flows from his deepest heart to those he has endearingly chosen; the Spirit by entering into the communion of the triune Godhead itself through the Spirit who now indwells us.”
So today I feel like I am needing to relate to each member of the Trinity in my life. The grace of the Lord Jesus is amazing, always on full display as He lives to pray for me. The Father’s love is like the ocean that John Owen described, I like to see myself floating in the ocean of the Father’s love. Of course the Holy Spirit is my constant, faithful friend. He is my Helper in every part of my day to day life.
2 thoughts on “GRACE, LOVE, AND COMMUNION”
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Though it’s been approaching 45 years since I’ve attended Catholic mass, the verse you began this with is quoted at every mass. I remember it as the priest proclaiming “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” to which the congregation reply’s, ” and also with you” or “and with your spirit”. Thank you Lord for opening the understanding of those we have prayed for and for all that you call to yourself. Thank you for countless numbers of souls added to your body everywhere on this earth.