Have you ever taken time to think about the relationship among the Godhead? Have you wondered how the Godhead interacts and cares for one another? Are you confused when you hear about God being the Trinity and yet One?
I am convinced we, as humans, are not fully capable of understanding everything about God. One characteristic we don’t fully understand is how God is three and yet one. We struggle with the concept and often throw our hands up and give up.
Perhaps I can offer a point of view that will help. I am a father. I have my own children. I am also a son with a mom and dad of my own. I also have my own spirit or mind. Now, this is an imperfect example, but it can provide us a way to better understand God a little better.
So, what does today’s passage point out to us about God? First, it shows us that God is omnipresent—meaning God is always everywhere. The voice of the Father comes from heaven. The Son is standing in the Jordan, having just been baptized. The Spirit has just descended on the Son like a dove. We see all three personalities or viewpoints of God in this passage.
Notice the Father says He loves His Son and is pleased with Him. We can interpret this to mean that God loves Himself. This helps us understand one of the two great commandments Jesus gave, which is to love our neighbor as ourselves. God sets the example of loving oneself by loving Himself.
We must learn to love ourselves. Not in a selfish way, but in a self-confidence and in an introspective way. In order to love others, we must know ourselves, be comfortable with who we are, and care for ourselves. Once we love ourselves, we can show that love to others, just as God has shown His love to us.
I pray we all better understand who God is. I pray we seek to love ourselves as God loves Himself. I pray each one of us loves our neighbor in the same way we love ourselves. Seek to understand God. Love yourself. Love as God loves. Love one another.
Matthew 3:16-17 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.”
Marty Pressey 