Remember! When I refer to person in the Godhead in any blog, I am referring either to singular person (one-of-three) or to the collective person (three-in-one) of the Triune.
Let’s dwell a little longer, dear tour companion, on the process of the Right Practice of giving credit where credit is due. Let’s examine the specific right attitudes required of the benefitted party (Jesus can be seen thinking and doing many of these things Himself in Blog # 60):
From the Justice System of the Godhead, a model for the benefactor versus beneficiary relationship emerges. The Gift Giver, Kinsman Redeemer or benefactor-in-general asks certain things of the beneficiary such as attentive listening, hearing with submission, agreement and assent (obedience), respect, cooperation, open exchange and communication, and is due, as well, certain other appropriate things such as appreciation in the form of thanks, praise, honor, recognition, and remembrance—all with tender affection . . . in other words, credit where credit is due.
He who benefits is seen as accountable for the performance of these things and his performance needs be with genuine feeling, not forced. Thus, here is the origin of God’s call for appreciation--for thanks, praise, honor, recognition and remembrance from humankind. God knows that credit to Him is a matter of, at the very minimum, just due. When God takes an initiative on behalf of mankind, mankind has a response-ability (hyphenated for effect) to God. In God’s balanced system of Pure Goodness where Pure Goodness fathers justice, one good turn deserves another, so to speak, not one good turn deserves evil in return (which is nothing more than returning evil for good).
Think on this. Jesus expresses respect for (cooperates with and appreciates) and totally buys into (agrees with the Father that) everything the Father purposes (wants to happen) is right and just. Jesus humbles himself in relation to the Father (submission) and directs all credit (recognition) for what He (the Son) does toward the Father. The Father exalts (honors, with the highest honors) the Son for His right attitudes and behavior. Jesus exalts Holy Spirit for the specialty work He does for Humankind. Holy Spirit is directed (initiative) by the Father and responds to His directives (obeys).
The Godhead community is fluid in these and more, good patterns of initiative and response. Such good patterns of living are called righteous attitudes or righteousness. God wills righteousness for the Godhead and calls the tenets of righteousness truth and the path, the way to life. Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6, NKJV).” Jesus is the embodiment of the righteous attitudes or tenets of righteousness that compose right living.
Further, the Godhead respects the Creation and humankind (though, in their fallen state neither deserve such benevolence due to their rejection of righteous living). 1 Peter 3:13, 14 states, “And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you are blessed ‘and do not be afraid of their threats nor be troubled.’”
In these verses we find the short and sweet of the meaning of righteousness. Righteousness is revealed as a blanket term for “followers of what is good”.
We already know that the Godhead is absolutely committed to Pure Goodness. And what God wants to happen (wills) on earth is the establishment and rule of pure goodness— by our choice. Through Jesus who, by the Father’s will, will rule earth in the Father’s good timing, Pure Goodness will ultimately prevail. Jesus’ work on the cross was the victory that decided the outcome of the war of good versus evil. And though the battle rages on for a time, evil’s reign on earth is plunging to the finish.
The Godhead rightly expects for Himself, and among men, gentle readers, no less appreciation, respect and righteousness from one and all than Jesus exemplified. He knows that humankind (to survive) must learn the power of conducting relationships in such goodness-ruled balance or dynamic. Indeed, it is vital to know, that from the Godhead dynamic of Pure Goodness flow God’s Will for the establishment of His perfect truth, for the justice imperative, for moral commands (Romans 6:11-14), for right practices and right attitudes.
And, thankfully, from this goodness dynamic also springs the concepts and the attitudes so treasured among believers in this the Season of Advent and Christmas: the attitudes of remembrance, appreciation and celebration of the Godhead, the Great Gift Giver, for the eternally precious gift of the birth of the Blessed Baby Jesus.
To be continued. . .
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