A high school friend of mine became a loner. He spent his time reading books, isolated himself in his parents' home until they died, and never tried to get a job. He had as little to do with others as possible. As a result, he never had to sacrificially love a wife, never had his sleep disturbed by a crying child, never agonized over a rebellious teen, and never cried over the misfortunes of a close friend. But oh, at what a cost! He has missed some of life's greatest joys and deepest satisfactions.

God, who created us to reflect His personal nature, is not a loner. In John 1:1, we read that before time began, "the Word," who later "became flesh and dwelt among us" (v.14), was "with God." The Greek word that is translated "with" implies interaction between the distinct persons of the Trinity.

Although God doesn't need us, in grace He chose to create us to be His friends. And in John 16:5-16, the Lord Jesus told His disciples how He, His Father, and the Holy Spirit are working together to bring a lost world to Himself.

Let's praise our personal, triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—for our great salvation. Through faith in Jesus, God forgives us and brings us into fellowship with Himself and others, saving us from the tragedy of being loners.    — Herbert Vander Lugt