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The Appearance of God and the Truth
Always searching, sometimes finding
George Martin clr.jpg
Rev. George Martin

Abraham was not blind to the possibilities of God; God’s promises, God’s blessings, and God’s presence. Sitting by the entrance to his tent, pitched in a very well known place, by the oaks of Mamre, Abraham looked up and saw three men standing near him. He immediately ran to them and bowed down to the ground. 

Abraham recognized them as the Lord and two attendants, and in wanting to impress his visitors he ran to get all he needed to show his hospitality. Sarah was told to use choice flour to make cakes for the guests; Abraham ran to the herd and selected a calf, tender and good, for his servants to prepare. Then he took curds and milk, and the calf and set it before them. He stood by them as they ate.

Where is your wife Sarah, one asked. There in the tent was the reply. 

“I will return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.”

Recognizing the presence of God and extending hospitality beyond the normal, gave to Abraham and Sarah a much hoped for Son, a blessing of the God well served. 

Paul, a Jew, and by the grace of God, an Apostle of Jesus, saw Jesus as the image of the invisible God. For, as a Jew, Paul understood that to see God was to die. But in seeing Jesus as God’s son, Paul understood the imagery of God within the Son.

He also understood Jesus had been with God from the very beginning of creation; before all things, Jesus was. Also, Paul knew that Jesus was the head of the body, the church; and that the riches of the glory of this full mystery, was and is, Christ in you, and that is hope of glory.  

Jesus and his disciples went into a village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying.

Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and said to Jesus, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to help me.” The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha you are worried about many things; there is need for only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part which will not be taken from her. Let us, like Mary always seek the truth.  

Abraham found God and angels in feeding guests; Paul saw Christ in the people he served; Mary at the feet of the Lord.


The Rev. George O. Martin is an Ordained Deacon at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 17th and Adams, Great Bend. Send email to georgeom@hbcomm.net.