We
want a million dollars, but we don’t want to work to get it. We want a great paying job, but don’t want to
endure the hardship of school or years of grueling work to get it. We want to go on an awesome vacation, but
never save the money to pay for it. We
want a beautiful house and furnishings but don’t want to wait until we can
afford it.
We
want a great relationship with our kids, but don’t give them the time that it requires. We want to be close to God, to see Him, feel
Him, know Him, be used in mighty ways, yet we don’t put effort toward our
relationship with Him. In other words,
we treat God the same way we treat everything else in life. We want big results from little effort. Read the story of Abraham sitting in his tent
when three men approach and see Abraham’s response in Gen. 18.
Jehovah appears to Abraham (v.1) and we know that Abraham knows it is
God by the term Adonay which he greets God with for Adonay is only used for
God. This implies that Abraham has spent
enough time with God to know Him when He appears. Abraham is not surprised or fearful of the
Lord. Let’s consider Abraham’s actions:
-Abraham hastened
to meet the Lord. (v.2)
-He fully/ warmly
welcomed the Lord. (v.2)
-Begged the Lord to
stay. Called self his servant. (v.3)
-Provided water to
wash and shade for rest. (v.4)
-Provided food,
comfort (refreshing time) for hearts. (v.5)
-Abraham hastened
to provide hospitality (v.6-8)
-Allowed them to
eat while he waited. (v.8)
Abraham hurried to meet with the
Lord. When was the last time we hurried
to meet with Him? Abraham fully and
warmly welcomed the Lord. Is that the
way we open our lives to the Lord everyday or do we rush to get in a few
prayers and read a few verses of the Word?
He desired the presence of the Lord and humbled himself before Him. He provided for the Lord’s needs (do we even
know what He needs?) and with great effort and no waste of time, provided for
those needs. Abraham allowed the Lord’s
needs to be met first while he patiently waited. Seems a little different to how we act with
God, doesn’t it?
But there was good come of
Abraham’s actions and heart toward God:
-The Lord blessed with a promise of a son. (v.10)
-The Lord said He knows Abraham. (v.19)
-Jehovah confided in Abraham. (v.20-21)
Abraham stood before (in the
presence of) the Lord. (v.22)
He negotiated with God. (v.23+)
In the end, Abraham stood in Jehovah’s
presence and was able to negotiate with Him.
(Full two way communication.) You
can’t get any closer to the Lord than that.
But just wanting it won’t make it happen; we have to put forth some
effort into the relationship. Note in “Draw
near to God, and He will draw near to you.” (Jm. 4:8) we are to initiate the
action, and then God responds. Most of
us want more of God’s presence and power in our lives, but wanting it isn’t
going to magically make it happen. We
have to start doing our part--- welcoming Him into our lives, humbling
ourselves, and making a genuine effort!