Monday Magnificat - La Paloma (the dove)

"When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'" (Matthew 3:16,17).

God the Father sent Jesus and introduced Him into the world - "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..." And Jesus always points us to the Father. Once one of the disciples asked, "Lord, show us the Father" and Jesus replied, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father..." He went on to say, "The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works."

Before the ascension of Jesus, He introduced the Holy Spirit. He spoke to His disciples concerning the role of the Holy Spirit, "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me."

The Trinity works together to redeem fallen man. God wooed His people in the Old Testament. That was a period of time when God spoke directly to men, or through angels bearing messages and through the mouths of prophets. This was the administration of law and sacrifice-the Old Covenant.

Then in the fullness of time, the Word-Jesus-was made flesh and dwelled among [them]. His birth initiated the dispensation of the Son-the New Covenant of grace.

Now, because Jesus sent the Holy Spirit, the Promise of the Father, we are living in the dispensation of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is bringing into experience that which Jesus made possible.

My Monday Magnificat? I thank God for the Holy Spirit who is a comforter, teacher, revealer, intercessor, and the One who indwells the believer to produce fruit in her life. He is all that and much more. I am also thankful for my church who makes room for the presence and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. For all of this I utter my praise.

MAGNIFICAT - an utterance of praise from the Latin magnificare - to magnify