# 149 Hey! I('m Glad You Are Here!

The Book of Genesis Day 149 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. Let’s continue to examine the “hospitality” of Abraham and see what we might learn. First of all, notice how Abraham makes his guest feel like they are not imposing. In fact, it’s just the opposite, he makes it seem like his guests will be doing him a favor by tarrying for a while. He says, “If I have found favor in your sight, do not pass on by your servant.” Then, he seeks to meet their immediate needs. These three men have arrived at Abraham’s camp in “the heat of the day,” in the middle of nowhere. Likely they have traveled far and are hot and tired. “Please, let me wash your feet while you rest under the shade of my tree.” These men are likely hungry, so Abraham meets that need as well. Hotcakes all around, and not just some cow that needs to be culled, but a “good and tender calf!,” Nothing but the best for these guests! Abraham made these three guests feel important! Why? What was his motivation? What did he hope to accomplish? The key is found in verse 5 and it should be the goal of every hospitable act! He did it, that these three might refresh their HEARTS! There is something about good hospitality that leaves the guest refreshed! This should be our goal whenever we engage in hospitality! The blueprint for proper hospitality can be found right here in Genesis! These men entered Abraham’s camp as strangers, they left refreshed! He accomplished it by serving them in such a way that they felt important. Always be prepared for showing hospitality! It may involve serving refreshments to a public servant working outside your door. It may be supplying a listening ear to a store clerk. It may be just setting your home up in such a way that visitors sense your welcoming heart. You don’t have to have a mansion, (a tent and a shade tree will do) Frankly, my best experiences of hospitality have come around cluttered kitchen tables, with a pot of hot coffee, and a simple attitude of “Hey, I’m glad you’re here!” Pray: Father, help us to learn that hospitality isn’t about everything being “Martha perfect.” Help us to always be ready to be a breath of fresh air to others.

A Pastor Must Be Fond of Guests

619 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; Next on the list of pastoral qualifications is the pastor must be hospitable. The word means “fond of guests.” A person who is fond of guests, does not view visitors as an interruption, and again we see this modeled in the Good Shepherd, Jesus. He had no place to call His own and His office was wherever HE traveled, and HE never viewed an encounter with another human being as an interruption. He was genuinely fond of guests, even suffering little children to come unto Him! Sometimes we confuse this gift with the notion that the hospitable person is gifted at entertaining others in their well appointed homes, with elegant dinners, and stimulating conversation, but really, it is what it says it is. It is anyone who is fond of guests. Some of the most hospitable people I know have pots and pans in the sink, unmade beds, laundry everywhere, and maybe they have something in the fridge they could throw together for that lunch they insist you stay for. The key is, they are just plain glad to see you. Abraham's attitude is instructive here: Ge 18:2 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." Here's a man who WAS “fond of guests.” You want to be a pastor? Be “fond of guests,” Be genuinely glad to see them, because as a pastor, you never know when they will drop in, with a need for conversation and fellowship, and isn't that the nuts and bolts of one on one ministry? Father, You have been so welcoming with us, help us to be welcoming to others.