Thanksgiving: Father, Son and Holy Spirit

Father, Son and Holy Spirit Our Father, which art in heaven, it is an intense joy to us to call Thee by that endearing name, for it is no mere empty title. We feel the spirit of adoption in us "whereby we cry, Abba, Father." We feel the nature of God in us, which has been given us by the Spirit of God, the quickening, the renewal, the begetting again unto a lively hope. O Lord, we thank Thee, that we are Thy children by regeneration as well as by adoption, that we have been made partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption which is in the world through lust. And we would revel in the thought that now it is given to us to become the sons of God, even to as many as believe on the name of Jesus, which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Help us to enjoy the sweet privileges which come to us through being introduced into Thy family. May we be among the number of those who dwell in Thy house and go no more out for ever; who must be still praising Thee, because they are always within the precincts of their great Father's house.

Oh, what hast Thou done for us, great God? What a wonderous grace is this; and what hast Thou prepared for us? Who can tell what Thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee, among the sons of men? We would now approach Thee, Lord, with that filial fear which well becomes dear children who are conscious of a thousand transgressions. Yet would we approach Thee with that filial boldness which is born of a sense of love, and daily grows upon mercies perpetually given. We worship Thee, O God our Father, with all our heart, and soul and strength. We love Thee; we trust Thee; we delight in Thee; Thou art all in all to us. Thou hast made with us an everlasting Covenant, ordered in all things and sure; and therefore are we bound to Thee by bonds that never can be broken.

And Thou, most blessed Jesus, Son of the Highest, we also worship Thee with an intensity of affection. Thou art our Brother, our Goel, our next of kin, and we know that Thou livest; and though after our skin worms destroy this body, yet in our flesh shall we behold Thee. We shall see Thee for ourselves and not another, to which hope we are daily coming. Thou wilt come to take Thy people up to their eternal home: therefore do we adore Thee now with all our heart, and with all the sacred love of our being. Blessed be the Son of God who spared not His honour, but became a Man, who spared not Himself, but died "the Just for the unjust to bring us God."

And, O Eternal Spirit, with equal reverence do we worship Thee; for it is by Thee that we come to Jesus, and it is through Jesus that we come to the Father. Oh, Thy wondrous love in dwelling in us 1 We are often astonished as we think of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit: we put it side by side with the incarnation of the ever-blessed Son, and we know not which is the greater mercy, the greater condescension of these twain. O blessed Spirit, make us deeply grateful for both, and because we know the one through the other may we rejoice in each as Thou shalt help us. Blessed be the one God, the God of Abraham, "the God of the whole earth shall He be called." With all our spirit reverently prostrate we adore and worship the only living and true God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.