“When Three = One” – June 1, 2026
Read: Genesis 1:1–2:3
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Genesis 1:1-3
“When Three = One”
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Have you ever counted to three? One . . . two . . . three! Now here’s a tricky question: Can three ever equal one? That sounds impossible, right? Three and one are different numbers! But with God, something amazing is true. God is three persons in one God. We call this the Trinity or the triune God. “Triune” means “three in one.” The three persons are: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit.
Sometimes people try to explain the Trinity with pictures, like an apple with three parts (peel, fruit, seed) or a clover with three leaves. Those examples can help a little bit, but God is still much greater than anything we can compare him to. Even grown-ups cannot fully understand everything about God!
But even if we can’t understand it perfectly, we can still believe it because the Bible teaches it. We can actually see the Trinity in the very first verse of the Bible!
- God the Father created the world.
- God the Holy Spirit was hovering over the waters.
- And when God said, “Let there be light,” Jesus was there too!
How do we know? In the New Testament, the Bible calls Jesus “the Word.” The Bible says that through Jesus, all things were made. That means Jesus was there at creation too!
Think about how powerful God is. He made the whole world out of nothing! He made the stars, oceans, animals, trees, and people. And this same powerful God still cares for you today.
- God the Father gives you what you need each day.
- Jesus, God the Son, died and rose to save you from sin.
- God the Holy Spirit works faith in your heart through God’s Word.
The Trinity can seem hard to understand, but here’s a triune truth: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit loves us completely and will care for us always.
Prayer:
Dear God, thank you for using your power to create the whole world. Use the power in my life to always keep me close to you. Amen.
The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.
Questions for Younger Children
- What does the word “triune” mean?
- Who are the three persons of the triune God?
Questions for Elementary Age Children
- Where do we see each of the three persons of the Trinity at creation?
- Why do you think it is hard for people to understand the Trinity?
Questions for Middle School and Above
- Even if we cannot fully understand God, why can we still trust him?
- How does each person of the Trinity help and care for us?
Bonus Question: Can you think of another Bible story where we see the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit together? (Hint: Think about Jesus’ baptism!)
