The Power of Three

Okay…I know, you think I have gotten too carried away with the idea of all this “The Power Of…” stuff.  But, I promise this will be the last one, because I likely could continue on for who knows how long.  Here again, an internet search yielded books, TV shows, movies, math calculations, etc. by that title.  But, this one could be the most important one of all, so I felt like I needed to continue by explaining the meaning I find most relevant.

The first thing I want to do is share some quotes I have found regarding the number three that I found interesting and/or inspirational:

“Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of man.”  Confucius

“Three essential virtues are patient, loyalty and kindness.”  Lailah Gifty Akita  

“Never forget the three powerful resources you always have available to you: love, prayer, and forgiveness.”  H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

1 Corinthians 13:13 (CEV) “For now there are faith, hope, and love.  But of these three, the greatest is love.”

“He who can make distinction in God without number or quantity, knows that the three persons of the Trinity are one God.”  Meister Eckhart

There are a lot of meanings for and uses of the word three in the Bible, but I will not even begin to touch on them all.  What we primarily need to recognize is that although  there are many things that contribute to make each of us unique – as created humans we are all the same.   

Most importantly is the knowledge that although we have only one God – that God is actually three-in-one, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  When reading about creation in Genesis 1:26a (VOICE) we find this:  “Now let Us conceive a new creation—humanity—made in Our image, fashioned according to Our likeness…”  So I believe that this seems to indicate  that human beings, like God, are three parts. 1 Thessalonians 5:23b (ERV):  “…We pray that your whole self—spirit, soul, and body—will be kept safe and be blameless when our Lord Jesus Christ comes.”   

There are those that do not agree that humans are a triune being – they believe that we are body and then spirit/soul.  Maybe that is what you believe.  But personally, I believe, based on the two scriptures quoted just above, as well as other thoughts/verses in the Bible that we are indeed triune beings. 

Understanding what our body is is pretty obvious – that is our physical being that is presented to the world to see.  The soul is our psyche – our mind/emotions/will.  The spirit can be a bit more difficult to understand – it is described as our “innermost being.”  What could that be?  For me, it seems that it is our heart.  These are strictly my personal thoughts:  

I ask this – what is required of us in order to live?  We must have a heartbeat that pumps life-giving blood to the rest of our body.  Genesis 2:7a (AMP) says:   “then the Lord God formed [that is, created the body of] man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being….”  

There is a very important part of our body called the Vagus Nerve – it helps to regulate the heart and our respiratory rate (breathing) as well as many other functions in our body.  So it would seem to me that when God breathed into the nostrils of the man He had created, that Vagus Nerve was activated causing the heart to start working then the lungs, the brain, etc.  All working together in harmony.    

Other Bible passages that help me lean to our spirit being our heart are:     

Jeremiah 4, 5a & 7 (NLV): “Then the Word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘This is what the Lord God of Israel says…And I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the Lord. They will be My people and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.’” 

Psalm 51:10 (CEB)  “Create a clean heart for me, God;  put a new, faithful spirit deep inside me!”

“and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”  Romans 5:5 (NASB)

“who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.”  2 Corinthians 1:22 (NASB)

“Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’”  Galatians 4:6 (NASB)

Paul wrote a letter to the Ephesians and said:  “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner self, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,..’” Ephesians 3:16-17 (NASB)

So, to wrap this up, we need to always remember that just because we are only one, we still have a lot of power and the decision we must make is will we use that power for good or for evil.  

We also need to keep in mind that two are always stronger than one alone and that it helps to have that other person beside us for strength, encouragement and power.  That other person may be your significant other, a family member or a friend; and at times, maybe even a stranger.  Take advantage of that additional support.

But, the Power of Three makes us who we are – a being created in the image of God; and, that God dwells within us.  That to me is of critical importance.  Do not let any part of your triune being suffer – care for them all equally; but, be very tuned into your spirit as it communes with the Spirit of God. 

Written by Karran Martin – April 9, 2022

[All bold emphasis is mine]