Advent is a celebration of the coming of Christ — and the whole Trinity!

I wonder if you’ve ever meditated on the Trinity? This has been one of the most important practices in my life.

What a blessing to see the way the Father, Son and Spirit love and honor one another — and us. Seeing the humility of God, we’re inspired to worship him with greater joy and abandon. Receiving the embrace of the Trinity, we’re nourished to grow in godliness.

Of course, it all starts with Jesus. “Look for a son born of a virgin,” the prophet said. “He will be called ‘Immanuel’ or ‘God with us’” (Isaiah 7:14).

But this coming of God didn’t happen in a palace. No one imagined what is in our Christmas crèche: the baby Jesus is born in a barn, wrapped in rags, and lying in an animal feeding trough!

Jesus the Christ keeps surprising everyone — as does the Triune God he reveals.

Look at the winsome deference of God. Look at how each member of the Trinity shines the spotlight on the others.

At Jesus’ baptism his Father thunders his approval from heaven: “This is my beloved Son and in him I am well pleased.” Holy Spirit lights on the Son in the form of a dove. (Mark 1:10-11)

Jesus exclaims, “The Father is the greatest!” And he warns everyone, “It’s okay if you speak against me, but never speak a word against Holy Spirit.” (John 10:29, Matt. 12:32)

Father God keeps drawing people to his beloved Son and Jesus keeps saying, “I do not speak on my own, but join in with what the Father is doing so that he may be glorified in the Son.” (John 6:44, 14:10, 13)

Parakletos is happy to be known not by his own name but as “the gift of the Father” and “the Spirit of Jesus”. He’s invisible like the wind and gives himself totally to make Jesus and his words known. (Luke 24:49, Acts 16:7, John 3:8, 14:6).

Jesus dies on the cross to show us the Father’s love and to give to us the Holy Spirit as the best Friend and strongest Advocate we could have (John 14:26). We become God’s temple and from deep within our hearts Holy Spirit cries out with adoration, “Papa Father!” and “Jesus is Lord!” (1 Cor. 3:16, Rom. 8:15, 1 Cor. 12:13)

God with us has become God within us!

The Father and Son are sharing their glory with us. The Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead raises us up to new life (John 17:22, Rom. 8:11).

Three-Personed God, how we thank you for coming to us in Jesus Christ. We so admire you. Form us with your hands of grace to be more like Jesus — more kind, humble, and generous to all. Awaken our embodied souls to be more personally present to bring your divine love to family, friends, neighbors, strangers, and even enemies. Amen.

Bill is a psychologist and ordained pastor, specializing in ministry to pastors.  He was personally mentored for many years by Dallas Willard and Ray Ortlund Sr. 

As a Spiritual Formation Pastor, he’s served in a mega-church and a church plant. He’s also trained over 1,000 lay counselors and taught courses in Christian psychology and spirituality at the graduate school level.  He and Kristi train pastors and other men and women in ministry in their Soul Shepherding Institute and Spiritual Direction certificate program.