# 148 Extravagant Hospitality

Day 148 Ge 18:1 Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, 3 and said, "My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. 4 "Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 5 "And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant." They said, "Do as you have said." 6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, "Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes." 7 And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it. 8 So he took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate. Another Old Testamant “theophany!” (an appearance by the pre-incarnate Christ) It was a typical hot afternoon. Abraham was taking it easy in the door of his tent, grabbing a little shade, and who knows maybe a little nap, when he looks up and sees three men standing before him. One of the three, we are told, is the Lord, (hence theophany) When he saw them, he hurried to greet them and immediately embarked on a frenzy of hospitality! “My Lord,” he says, demonstrating humility, (a tremendous trait to have when exercising hospitality) “stay a while, please allow me to wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me get you something to eat.” They agree, and Abraham has Sarah cook up three cakes. Then he literally ran as fast as a 100 year old man can run, (pardon me but I have this picture of the Tim Conway shuffle) and picked out the best calf and had it prepared. He served up milk and butter, and then stood quietly by as they ate. ……another sign of humility and certainly the mark of a good waiter, who is unobtrusive, yet always ready to jump in and serve where needed! Wow! If this is a “morsel of bread” one has to wonder what Abraham and Sarah consider a regular meal I guess another lesson here might be that hospitality should be extravagant! This whole incident should make each one of us thing of the words found in Heb 13:2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. Extravagant hospitality is a mark of the followers of Christ. We are to imitate Christ who didn’t come to be served, but to serve! Jesus washed His disciples feet, He chastised Simon for not showing classic hospitality to Him when He came to dinner. Jesus encourages us to give cups of cold water to others in His name. He reminded us that when we do these things to the least, we do them unto Him! That alone ought to push us toward extravagance! Abraham has set forth a tremendous example for us to follow. Let’s ask the Lord to show us how to be warmly hospitable in the midst of an ever colder world. Hey, you never know whom you may be entertaining! Pray: Father, I likely will have opportunity to refresh someone along the way today. Open my eyes to those opportunities and help me seize them in the name of Jesus.