The Power of Three
Rebekah McCloud
I heard a preacher say once, “Won’t he do it?” The congregation responded, “Yes, he will.” The preacher then asked, “How you know?” The congregation said, “Because he did it for me.” My, my; what a question, what an answer, what a promise. Hmm…My question is, do we really believe it? If we believe God will do it, why do we question when it is done? God’s timing is not our timing. If we believe God will do it, why do we question what is done? God’s thoughts are not our thoughts. If we believe God will do it, why do we question how it is done? God’s ways are not our ways.
Isaiah 55: 8-9, says, “for my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Job 11:7 asks, “can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?” My answer is no! Point, blank, period, God’s process is not our process.
So, let me ask again. Do we really believe God will do it? Doubt and faith cannot reside in the same place. Nor can fear and trust or disbelief and belief. Ecclesiastes 4:12 talks about a union of three. It says, “though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” I like to think of faith, trust, and belief as a union—a triple braided cord that is not easily broken.
Hebrew 11:1 tells us about faith. It reads, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Jeremiah 17: 7-8 reminds us about trust. It says, “blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” They trust, they do not fear, they have no worries. Amen. Finally, John 20:29 tells us about belief. It says, “Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Faith, trust, and belief; the power of the three is not easily broken.
The four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) record the 37 miracles of Jesus. Sometimes Jesus performed miracles through his own power. Other times, Jesus called on God, the Father for assistance. His actions proved that the ultimate three: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit can do anything. I believe if we could ask Simon and Andrew today, won’t God do it, they would say, “Yes, God will, God did it for me” (Mark 1:29-31). I also believe there would be a resounding yes if we asked the same question of others who were recipients of the miracles of Jesus. I am sure the wedding guests at Cana (John 2:1-11), the man at Capernaum (Mark 1: 21-27), Jairus (Luke 8:40-42, 49-56), the man who was unable to speak (Matthew 9:32-34), the blind man (John 9:1-12), the ten leapers (Luke 17:11-19), and the paralyzed man (Matthew 9:1-8) would all say “God did it for me.”
I am reminded of something my Momma used to say. “Baby, things are not always what they look like. Trust in God and keep looking to the hills. Little becomes much when you put it in the Master’s hands. He will always provide.” Psalm 84:11 says, “No good thing will [God] withhold from those who walk uprightly.” Let us remember Galatians 3:29. It says, “If ye be Christ’s then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.” The blessing of Abraham is three-fold: spiritual, physical, and financial. God is still in the blessing business and God never fails.
Won’t God do it? Yes, God will. How do I know? Because God did it for me. Halleluiah!