Genesis 18:1-8

             We are often quite contradictory.  We sing, “It’s all about You…” then act like it’s all about us.  We know that the Bible speaks of our God blessing us.  In fact we are told in Ephesians 1:3 that God “has [already] blessed us with every blessing in Christ Jesus.”  The blessing of God is our heritage.  Yet the Bible refers to us blessing the Lord more than it declares the Lord blessing us.  You know that it is in our blessing the LORD that we are blessed!For the sons of God it truly is “all about You!”  I find great encouragement in the Word of God that teaches us that there is no God like our God.  There is no one with whom we may compare God.  Our God is not like anyone or thing…He is simply God! 

 We may struggle with the notion of our blessing the Lord, yet that is what our Lord desires…that we would refresh Him.  We ever see ourselves as the needy ones, and we are, but we’re not the only ones  We may feel that we are inadequate to bless the Lord, and in some ways we are but the Lord enables us to be adequate.  That Godly enablement  is somewhat like asking your Dad for money so you can buy him a birthday present.  You indeed did buy a present, but it would not have been possible without the money from your dad.  In this simile your dad made you adequate for the task.

Let us look at Genesis 18 and read the first 8 verses:

“And the LORD appeared to him (Abraham) by the oaks of Mamre as he sat

at the door of his tent in the heat of the day.

He lifted up his eyes and looked and behold, three men were standing in front of him.

When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them,

and bowed himself to the earth and said,

“O Lord, if I have found favor in Your sight, do not pass by Your servant.

Let a little water be brought, and wash Your feet, and rest yourselves.

After that you may pass on—since You have come to your servant.”

So they said, “Do as you have said.”

And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said,

“Quick! Three seraphs of fine flour!  Knead it and make cakes.”

And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good,

and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly.

Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared,

and set it  before them.

And he stood by them under the tree while they ate.”

            The first thought that came to Abraham when he saw the LORD approaching was that He is coming to be refreshed.  Yes, the LORD did wish to discuss the Sodom and Gomorrah situation with Abraham, and yes, He was about to make a birth announcement, but that was incidental to His need for refreshment.  “Let some water be brought to wash your feet…and rest under this tree…I’ll bring some bread also that You may be REFRESHED…and then You can go on.  Notice how Abraham declares the intent of the Lord in coming to him:  SINCE THIS IS WHY YOU HAVE COME TO YOUR SERVANT.”  Refreshing the LORD is bound up in the washing of feet.  This is more than an antiquated Eastern custom…there is something significant about feet and refreshment.  The feet are the only part of our bodies that are deemed in Scripture to be beautiful…as they bring good news.   The LORD allowed Abraham to do as he purposed, as we read in verse 5.

            Jesus was invited to the home of Simon. (Luke 7:36-50)  While there, a woman of the street came in as well.  She didn’t come to eat or socialize, but she came to refresh the LORD!  She was a sinner and she dared to come in to refresh the LORD.  Simon was rather put out about this situation.  This act of Jesus, allowing this sinful woman to touch Him, seemingly was adequate evidence to convince Simon that Jesus was no longer a force with which to be reckoned…  “if He knew what sort of woman she is, He wouldn’t let her touch Him…”  Poor Simon, little did he realize that if he were the one to have touched Jesus, it would have been a sinner touching Him.  If it weren’t for sinners, there would be NO ONE to minister to the LORD and refresh Him.  You remember the discussion that Jesus held with Simon carried with it a word of rebuke… “You invited me here but you gave me no water for My feet…yet this woman is using her tears to wash My feet.”  The reason for her action is the amount of love she has… “she is forgiven much, for she loves much.”  Thus we see that ministry to the LORD is bound up with our love for the LORD.  That love seems to be bound up with the level of our neediness. We notice in this setting that loving the Lord preceded the absolution of sins.  It must be that the woman had an inner knowing of sins forgiven, so she loved much.  We are not to love the Lord and refresh Him because of that which He has done for us, but we refresh Him for His own sake and enjoyment.  Love is not a reward for services rendered.   Simon invited Jesus to be a guest in his home, but he didn’t love Him, and so He didn’t refresh Him…not even with the most common of courtesies…water to wash His feet.

            The disciples in the upper room didn’t take Jesus’ need into consideration and so had not washed any one’s feet, let alone Jesus’ feet.  So Jesus takes it upon Himself to do the honors.  After considerable discussion Jesus informs His followers that they are to follow His example and wash one another’s feet.  To put it another way, Jesus requires us to refresh one another.  We are indeed our brothers’ keepers!  And that is how we shall refresh the LORD!  How do we wash one another’s feet?  Keep in mind that the washing of feet is not reserved for a religious rite (although a foot washing service is a great blessing).  We wash one another’s feet when we minister to them; in speaking a word of encouragement or affirmation.  We wash feet when we help another out in a physical way; mowing a lawn, lending a book, giving a gift, paying for a much needed item, spending time with someone… “feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the prisoners, “ etc. is the way Jesus expressed it.

            Often we have wondered how we could refresh the LORD.  It was easy, we say, for Abraham, or the woman, for they physically saw Him.  Abraham saw with his physical sight three men, but in his spirit he knew that this was the LORD.  Do we recognize the Lord when He approaches us in need of refreshment.  There is a story told of a lady who was told in prophecy that the LORD would come to her.  She believed the word and set about preparing for the coming of the Lord.  In the midst of her busy activity a homeless man came to her door asking for food.  She informed him that she did not have time to prepare any food for him as she was expecting someone important.  Some time later a young child came to her door, having fallen off her bike and skinned her knee and asking for a band aid.  She turned this child away without a band aid.  Still later in the day the phone rang and a young mother was calling to ask advise about some matter in her home.  Impatiently she slammed down the receiver, frustrated at all the interruptions.  Late that evening as she was sure the LORD would not come she complained to Him in her time of prayer as to why He had not come as the word had said.  The LORD’s answer was, “I came three times and you turned Me away each time.  You considered Me an interruption, but I was your opportunity.”  How often have we missed an opportunity to refresh the Lord because we viewed it as an interruption in our schedule.  Let is develop a heart prepared to refresh the Lord, whenever and however He comes.

Remember the words of Jesus that it is those who have not seen but love anyway that are more blessed.  Remember also that Jesus’ plan is for us to love, serve, and refresh one another.  “As you have done it to the least of these, My brethren, you have done it unto Me!”  So grab your basin and towel and go forth  to refresh the Lord. The towel and basin are probably the most fitting symbols of the sons of God.