Genesis 18:4-8 - Serving God
Scripture:
Genesis 18:4-8
4 "Please let a little water be brought and wash your feet,
and rest yourselves under the tree;
5 and I will bring a piece of bread, that you may refresh
yourselves; after that you may go on, since you have visited
your servant." And they said, "So do, as you have said."
6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, "
Quickly, prepare three measures of fine flour, knead it and
make bread cakes."
7 Abraham also ran to the herd, and took a tender and choice
calf and gave it to the servant, and he hurried to prepare it.
8 He took curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared,
and placed it before them; and he was standing by them under
the tree as they ate.
NASU
Thoughts:
I find this account very moving. Abraham is welcoming his
three visitors: God presenting Himself in a human form and
two angels (Genesis
18:1-3). The idea of welcoming God into your home and
waiting upon Him is so beautiful.
Were a person of high esteem to visit our homes today, perhaps
a politician, a ministry or business leader, we would find
ourselves bending over backwards to make sure that they were
comfortable and that all the preparations were made for them
(as Abraham does here). It is strange then, that we so often
find ourselves approaching God as though He served us, rather
than we serving Him. We generally think of what God will do
for us when He is near (though He is never anything else), but
Abraham thought of what he could do for God. We think of such
things as how He might bring peace to our hearts or heal us,
how He might give us wisdom for our circumstances or
miraculously provide, but Abraham thought of those things that
would be a blessing to Him.
Truly, He does tell us to bring our wants and needs to Him, so
it is not wrong to do so. But at the same time, how blessed
it is to simply serve the living God. To approach Him with a
heart open to whatever He wills, with a desire to just be a
blessing to Him. May God grow each of us in the grace of
serving.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I want to serve You with my life. Speak to me
Holy Spirit, directing me to the places and activities You
desire for me to do. May my very life be a hymn of praise to
You.
Amen