How Hospitable Are We?

How Hospitable are We?

Genesis 18:1-8 NT: Hebrews 13: 2

1 The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 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.

3 He said, "If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, [a] do not pass your servant by. 4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5 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."6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. "Quick," he said, "get three seahs [b] of fine flour and knead it and bake some bread."

7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 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.

Introd.

1. What is the first thing that happens to you when you enter Meijer? Even secular businesses like Meijer understand the concept of hospitality, which is why they have people greeting you as you come in. Normally, you will hear them: Good evening folks, welcome to Meijer, and when you are leaving: Thank you for shopping at Meijer, have a good evening; come back again. In fact Sam Walton always had someone to greet people with a friendly smile coming into his stores. His pledge with every “associate” was, ?“From this day forward, every customer who comes within ten feet of me, regardless of what I am doing in this place, I am going to look him in the eye. I am going to smile. I am going to greet him with a ‘Good morning,

2. How do you feel when someone welcomes you, specially if that is the first time you are there? There is nothing that the sad, frustrated, lonely, pathetic, empty soul does not like more than a friendly and smiling face saying “welcome”. It is like the son who have been away from home, who knows that he has spent all their money, who don’t have a place to go, who feel so unworthy of facing his dad, and in response his dad, came to his encounter: hugged him, kissed him, and gave him his own clothes. This passage is an invitation to consider how Hospitable are we? What does is mean to be a hospitable church?

3. Abraham and Sara were visited by three people in the heat of the day and what they did is a very good example of hospitality and very important lesson for all of us. The result of this encounter is the best news ever for this family. God certainly has his time, place and ways to come to encounter us.

I. GOD MAY VISIT US UNEXPECTEDLY/ DIOS PUEDE VISITARNOS INESPERADAMENTE

A. GOD VISITS/ DIOS VISITA

1. First of all, God can visit us at any time, in any place He may want, and in any circumstance or situation he chooses. I am convinced that God visits his people regardless of your spiritual commitment, or your doctrinal or theological knowledge. The fact is that God likes to visit his people and he likes to do it unexpectedly.

2. In this passage we see the Lord appearing to Abraham. Just as he did it before with Noah, and as he did with Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and Joshua etc. Through the Scriptures this single truth you can count on; God visits us.

B. HIS VISITS ARE UNEXPECTED/ EL VISITA INESPERADAMENTE

1. From this passage we learn that God loves be waited upon, that He want us to be prepared, always ready for his visitation since he never announces the exact time or the place. He just said; I will visit you, but he never says when. I am convinced that there are times when God visit us through people…

2. The NT says about Jesus John 1: 10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. And rev. 3:20 20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. These two passages imply the fact, that God visit us and his visitation must be expected always.