Genesis 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.
Can you imagine the Lord appearing before you? For Abraham, I’m sure it was both thrilling and terrifying at the same time! What I love most about this passage is Abraham’s heart of hospitality! He was so quick to welcome the Lord in! The Amplified version reads, “Do not pass by your servant, I beg of you!” (Gen. 18:3)
Abraham recognized that this visitation was not common; it was HOLY! And he treated it as such! In fact, in perfect host fashion, Abraham immediately went to work making all sorts of arrangements (everything from foot washing to preparing an elaborate meal) to see that his GUEST OF HONOR was refreshed!
There is SO MUCH to glean here!!
You may say to yourself, “Why would the Lord need anything from man? He’s God?!” You’re right! But there is something so attractive that delights the heart of God when His children welcome Him enthusiastically with honor, reverence, surrendered lives, and adoration!
Is not our hearts desire that the Lord come close? (Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8)
Are we longing for His nearness like never before? (My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. How long until I can go to the house of the Lord? Ps. 84:2)
Are we sensitive enough to the Holy Spirit to discern Holy times of visitation?
Do we give Him preeminence when He comes?
I hope your answer is YES!
At Nations House of Prayer, we desire to be ones who seek our heavenly Bridegroom fervently like the Shulammite woman in Song of Songs. Once she found her beloved, she wouldn’t let him GO!
Holy Spirit, you can COME; Holy Spirit, you can STAY! We welcome you with praise!
A walk through the Bible in 2024,
Heart of Nations House of Prayer,
-Mandy Reiszner