Many people grew up thinking the idea of the Trinity was something that some monk in an ivory tower dreamed up to confuse people in the future. But that simply isn’t the case. Throughout the NT, scripture speaks of the “Father and the Son” and also “Christ and His Spirit” and at two key places puts it all together—in the Great Commission and in Paul’s early letter to the Galatians. The early church experienced the One God of the Universe, in three distinct ways—the Creator of all, Jesus in the flesh, and the power of the Spirit in their lives—so from the very beginning the Christian movement has spoken of a Trinity, One God in 3 persons, 3 expressions. And even in Genesis God says, “Let Us make human beings in our image…” From the beginning, God experienced community in God’s very self. Strange and mysterious yes. But scripture simply gives us language for those three ways that we continue to experience God today.

The heart of the Bible is this man, this Savior—Jesus. His name means, “God saves.” The angel told Mary what his name would be, and after his birth, Simeon waxed eloquently about what Jesus would accomplish. Jesus is the name by which we know God in the flesh. Jesus is the name by which we meet God face to face. Jesus is the name of the man who was really a man…and so much more. Simeon said it so well: “He is the light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!” He is and always will be the light for all.

God’s messenger appears to Gideon and he is overwhelmed by the moment. God assures him he will not die, so Gideon builds an altar and calls God and that place, “Yahweh Shalom”, which means “the Lord is Peace.” We usually think of peace as watching a sunset, sitting by a bubbling stream, etc. Those are peaceful scenes. But knowing God is peace, means that you are willing to be in conflict with the world. Gideon tore down the false altars and idols because he knew “The Lord is Peace.” God’s peace lived in him, so he could handle un-peaceful situations in his life. To worship “The Lord is Peace” is know the one who can give peace, no matter the circumstances we are in.

In this most scary and agonizing account, we are on the edge of our seat wondering—how could this happen? How could Abraham do such a thing?  How could God ask such a thing? But God never would have gone through with this challenge. And as Abraham discovers and we are to discover, even in our most scary moments, we have a God who is Yahweh Yireh, the God who provides. The God who makes a way when there doesn’t seem to be a way.

What do wheelbarrows, smart watches, and kitchen blenders all have in common? They were made for a purpose. The same is true of you! The Creator made you for a reason. We were made to matter, to mirror Jesus, for each other, and for a mission. When we look at everyone as though they were made in the image of God we realize everyone is a child of God and made with purpose and for a purpose.

John Withrop set sail with a large group of colonists set to arrive at the Massachusetts bay Company settlement in 1630. A lawyer by trade, he gave a sermon on the boat in which he described this new land as a “City on a hill”. As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of this country we look to Galatians 5 to remind us of the beauty and tension of this country. Founded in freedom, blessed by freedom, grounded in freedom. But freedom for what purpose? Paul reminds us that when God gives freedom, it is not just to inflate myself, to better myself, but to be a blessing to others. To love others. As we celebrate our freedom, let us also celebrate the “Common Good” to which we are called.