THANKFUL FOR FULLNESS

onsider the ‘fullness of God’ in meditation this early morning, I am keenly aware of the worship and mystery in considering such things. Worship leads to thanksgiving and mystery leads to faith. There is a single favorite text that helps describe this: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.” This Trinitarian salutation from the Second Corinthian letter expresses the mystery of our faith.

These Three, love, grace and fellowship, express the essential natures and functions of God. The Father is love, Jesus is grace and the Holy Spirit is fellowship. This is the life of God to us. This is the example of spiritual life as compared to natural life. This is the characteristic activity of God and is the substance, principle and definition of such activity.

There is really only one word that expresses and defines the Father clearly and it is that the Father is love. It is out of this love that truth; justice, mercy, and righteousness are defined. All other definitions are partial if they do not first include love. This love is the willingness to do good and the doing of good is goodness. Good simply fulfills the nature of love. To know this kind of love is first to know it for ourselves. It is the life of fullness and freedom. This is precisely what good is. Whatever serves this life to make it good is love manifested, and is a love that produces fullness and freedom. Goodness is life and whatever ministers life. The Father is the source and giver of ‘light and life’ and is framed in such understanding.

“Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” Jesus