Three Visitors

In today’s text, God prepares to fulfill His promise to Abraham. God comes with news – Sarah will become pregnant. Sarah responds with laughter – she can’t believe that this will come true. But Abraham and Sarah will find that God loves to do the impossible – to make a way when there is no way. 

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REFLECTION

 

Taking a Stand

by Nancy Gleeson

Three Visitors

God appeared to Abraham in disguise and Abraham welcomed the unknown traveler with a fine meal.  Rather than calling for his servants, He personally selected a calf and Sarah personally prepared the bread. As they ate, Abraham visited with them, (but not to impress them or gain something for himself). Instead, this hospitality was the pure manifestation of his heart filled with grace and love.

It has been said that reputation is what you do when you are on display, but character is what is done when no one is watching. Every day the Spirit thrusts upon us opportunities to respond to the needs of others.  How willing are we to act without regard for self? When we look for God in the circumstances, are we more likely to show grace and mercy?

Abraham does not know who he is serving until this man asks for Sarah. Only God would know of her recent name change. Then with the promise of a son, the desire of Sarah’s heart, Abraham knows who is speaking to him. Sarah is listening and laughs to herself but finds that this visitor knows her thoughts! When he asks her why she laughed, she denies it out of fear, for this must be God. The story stops with God wanting Sarah to admit the truth, admit that she did laugh.

Lying is sin which separates us from God and His blessings. God wants Sarah to open her heart and rest on His promise. Nothing is too difficult for God!

Replacing fear with faith gives Sarah the power to conceive. The nature of faith is to look beyond the circumstances to know the character of the one who promises. Faith based on a promise, based on the word of God, can be trusted despite feelings or anything else.

Does it seem too hard for you to believe you can be who God wants you to be? Does it seem futile to pray for the conversion of that friend or loved one? Ask yourself, "Is anything too hard for God?" In response, place your faith not on your own resources, but on the resources of God. Then remember, with God, ALL things are possible.

UALC’S CAMPAIGN OF PRAYER

MONDAY - MEDICAL PERSONNEL - Pray for our doctors, nurses, and all medical professionals to have strength, wisdom, endurance, and alertness.