Family

The Three Relationships

by Terry Barlow
12/12/14
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   The Trinity is not only about three eternal persons, it.’s about three eternal relationships.: Father with Son, Father with Spirit and Son with Spirit, in which all three relationships are two way or bilateral. Amongst these relationships exists a holy jealousy. It is not the jealousy you might expect in a human relational triangle when one may feel excluded and thus covets the position of the other. No, instead One feels a passionate desire when it comes to the redemption of the human race to see the Other vitally involved and engaged, and recognized in the process even at One’s own expense.

 We reflect this holy jealousy when we prefer one another in honor and take steps to help a brother or sister be fruitful or get ahead, or avoid a serious mistake. Once I observed a young married friend of mine falling more and more into a romantic relationship with an older man who wasn’t here husband. As I came between them the older man asked my young friend if I was jealous. She tried to explain to him the difference. In fact, I was jealous, but with a godly jealousy. I was jealous to see my friend give God and her husband the places in her life that were being usurped by this evil intrusion.

 Job’s situation too turned around when he forgot himself and became an advocate for, and prayed for his friends. (Job 42 v.10) In the gospel of John Jesus says that no one can snatch a believing child out of the hand of the Father or the hand of the Son. So how can this child be in both of those hands at the same time? Because Father and Son are one you say, and you are right. But there is more.

  Imagine the child of God standing between the Father and the Son holding and being held by the hand of Each. It,’s impossible for even One to let go but he or she is held by Both.! Imagine the little brother or sister walking hand-in hand between father and older brother and deeply, dearly loved by both! That one is doubly secure. As when the One who cannot lie utters a promise and then proceeds to swear by Himself (as in “You are a priest forever..”) since there is none greater in the universe by whom to swear.