When we travelled to Greece in September, we flew on Lufthansa. As we were returning home on our transatlantic flight, the stewardess walked down the aisle with a huge basket full of small chocolate bars. I have always had a sweet tooth, so I asked if I could have more than one. She smiled and said, “Sure, take three if you want. ‘Alle guten dinge sind drei!’ All good things come in threes!”

I had never heard that expression before, so I asked her about it. She said it is a very common saying in Germany, a light-hearted way of justifying doing something a third time. I did some more checking on it later, and the expression is used many ways. It can also mean “third times a charm.” All good things come in threes.

Isn’t it interesting that the Germans have a saying that GOOD things come in threes, but in this county we talk about BAD things coming in threes.  It has to do with looking for patterns, and I have to admit I much prefer the German attitude on this one.

Something that occurred to me almost immediately when she said “All good things come in threes” is the Trinity. God has chosen to reveal Himself to us Triune, three-in-one. The only true God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

Matthew 28:19 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

This is what God tells us about himself, that He is one God but three persons.

He is a loving Father, who made everything and still takes care of us.

He is also the one who came down here as the Son of God, took on flesh, became one of us, so that He could keep the Law for us and offer His sinless life as the payment for the sins of the World.

He is the Spirit who works in us to bring us to faith and continues to work in us to keep us faithful.

All good gifts come to us from the one who reveals Himself as the three-in-one.