In Genesis 18:1-15 the Lord visited Abraham in the form of three men. Whether Abraham recognised them as the Lord I don’t know, but Abraham’s reaction to their visit showed his heart.
“Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. He said, ‘If I have found favour in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.’
‘Very well,’ they answered, ‘do as you say.’
So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. ‘Quick,’ he said, ‘get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.’
Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree,” (Genesis 18:3-8).
Note that Abraham didn’t call his staff to serve them. He was a rich and influential man and could easily have done it, but he humbled himself and served them personally with effort and enthusiasm. He also used the finest flour to have the bread made of and a carefully selected choice, tender calf to be prepared. While they ate, he stood by as their personal servant.
Abraham was visited by the Lord! Wow, would that not be ecstatic to be visited by the Lord? Can you imagine your front door bell ringing and as you open it, there the Lord stands. The difference between us and Abraham, however, is that the Lord had to visit Abraham, but in our case He is with us all the time. Continually the Holy Spirit is our guest. How welcome does He feel in our presence? What does He have to sit through with us as we watch television, play on the computer, surf the Internet, talk with our family members and friends, etc? What does He have to tolerate in our thought life?
Abraham went to much trouble to prepare choice food for his guests. What do we offer the Lord? Is He walking with us to listen to gossip, complaining or judgement of other people, or does He hear us glorifying His name, speaking faith, witnessing the gospel and does He see us loving our neighbour. How does He see us react to trials? Do we panic and fear or do we react in faith and prayer?
Abraham had the food prepared carefully. Do we just enter the day without any spiritual preparation? When we do our jobs or hobbies, careful planning and preparation go into it, doesn’t it? How about our faith life? When we enter a new day, have we prayed about opportunities to share the gospel, comfort people and equip others with what we have – to make a difference? Have we tuned ourselves into hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit who wants to lead us in doing good works the Lord has prepared for us? “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do,” (Ephesians 2:10).
How pure are we before the Lord? We have another spirit that comes to visit regularly – Satan – and if he finds a foothold of sin and impurity he will use it to make life difficult for us. Ephesians 4:27: “and do not give the devil a foothold.”
So what do we offer the Lord? “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things,” (Philippians 4:8).
Lord, help me to be aware of your presence and to offer you my choicest life.
Thank you Lord that your Word went out from your mouth, via your servant’s pen, and it will not return to you empty, but will accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which you sent it.
Please pass this on if you think others may benefit by it.
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