*Scripture: Genesis 18:1-15 (NKJV)* 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. 2 So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, 3 and said, "My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. 4 Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 5 And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant." They said, "Do as you have said." 6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, "Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes." 7 And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it. 8 So he took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate. 9 Then they said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" So he said, "Here, in the tent." 10 And He said, "I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son." (Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.) 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. 12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, "After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?" 13 And the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?' 14 Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son." 15 But Sarah denied it, saying, "I did not laugh," for she was afraid. And He said, "No, but you did laugh!"
*Devotion* Today's text has an interesting progression of events. In the heat of the day Abraham is resting, perhaps napping. He is stirred by the appearance of three figures standing in front of him. First, he is startled by having company at such an odd time. Then he recognizes these are not your everyday passersby. We know this from Abraham's greeting: "So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, and said, 'My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant.'" Abraham begged them to stay for a meal, which they did. Abraham was surprised, yet delighted, that His Lord would come to visit him--and even condescend to share a meal with him. More was added to this momentous day when God promised him a return visit--and the miraculous gift of a son. Yet Sarah's laughter reflected her unbelief at God's promise. Was it all too good to be true? We are no less blessed today. Our Lord visits us repeatedly in His Means of Grace and shares a meal with us in His Supper. He promises to return to us whenever His Word is faithfully preached and His Sacraments rightly administered. Are we rightfully prepared to receive such bounty, or are we prone to laugh it off as Sarah did? May we be granted a clean heart every Lord's Day to receive His presence and His gifts with an attitude of faith, joy, and gratitude.
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