Two businessmen went into a diner one day and ordered a couple of drinks. Then they took some sandwiches out of their briefcases and started to eat. The owner became quite upset. He marched over to them and said, "You can't eat your own sandwiches in here!" The businessmen looked at one another, shrugged their shoulders and then exchanged sandwiches.

That's not exactly what you would call a warm welcome. The owner didn't treat them very hospitably. You know, it's the exact opposite of what we see in our text for today. In our text, Abraham was the epitome of hospitality. We're told that he was resting in the shade of his tent at the heat of the day. In other words, it was siesta time. When all of a sudden, Abraham was approached by three visitors. Now he could've said: "Don't bother me now! Can't you see I'm resting? Come back later." But he didn't. Instead, he offered them a very warm welcome. In fact, our text says that he hurried out to meet them. Literally, he ran out to greet them and bowed down low to the ground as a sign of honor and respect.

From the context, we soon learn who these three men were. It was the Lord God Himself and two of His angels, and they had come to visit Abraham. No wonder that Abraham treated them so well. First of all, he brought water (a precious commodity in the desert) to wash the dust off their feet, and let them rest in the shade while he went to work. He had Sarah bake some bread from three seahs of fine flour. That's more than a bushel. He was going to make sure they didn't run out of food. He provided some curds and milk, and most important of all a choice, tender calf for the BBQ. Keep in mind, a fattened calf was not common in the desert, so he was doing something very special. Yes, Abraham was giving God his very best, the height of his hospitality.

My friends, how about you and me? How do we treat God, when He comes to visit us? Oh to be sure, He doesn't visit us in the same manner that He did Abraham, but He does visit us nonetheless. He comes to us in the Word and the Sacraments. He talks with us in prayer, as we read and study the Bible. And when He does, what kind of hospitality do we render? Do we welcome Him with open arms, or do we shove Him off in a corner? To borrow a page from our Gospel lesson, do we humbly sit at His feet like Mary did, drinking in every word? Or do we rush around like Martha, distracted by our earthly concerns? Do we offer God our very best like Abraham did, giving generously of our offerings, volunteering our time to help out at church, using our talents to serve one another? Or do we simply give Him the leftovers? Too often, I think we do the latter.

I'm reminded of the school-teacher, who was recuperating in the hospital from several cuts and bruises. While she was convalescing, her room-mate said, "Your students must miss you a lot." "Not at all!" the teacher replied. "Their aim's usually pretty good. That's why I'm here."

Sadly, when it comes to keep God's Word, doing what is pleasing in His sight, serving Him and helping others, we often miss the target. And in so doing, we wind up hitting Him, attacking our Teacher, our Savior and Friend with our sins of disobedience.

Interestingly enough, after Abraham had done everything he could to serve God and the angels, our text says that he stood near them under a tree. This was the normal posture for a servant, indicating his willingness to run and get them anything they needed. And incidentally, it's part of the reason why we stand for the reading of our Gospel lesson in church. It not only indicates respect and reverence for the Good News, but also our willingness to hear God's Word and then run out and do it. But unfortunately, too often it seems like we go out and forget what we've just heard, for we don't always treat God with the hospitality that He deserves.

Dear friends, for that reason God would have every right to treat us inhospitably. He could turn a cold shoulder to us, give us the silent treatment and simply walk away. But the Good News of the Gospel is that He does not do that. Instead, He comes to visit us over and over again in the Word and the Sacraments to bring us His pardon and peace. Indeed, like Abraham He has prepared a lavish feast for us in the Lord's Supper, where He nourishes us with Jesus' very body and blood, to cleanse us of all our unrighteous acts and provide us with the remission of all our sins.

Now our text tells us that when Abraham did that, he did it so that they could be refreshed. And God does the same for you and me. He uses the Means of Grace to refresh our heart and soul. As a matter of fact, the Hebrew verb 'refresh' actually means: 'to brace up your heart.' It's the idea that your heart has fallen down in the dumps and needs something to support it. You're sad and weak and weary and you need something to lean on. Well, that is what Jesus gives us. His cross is our support that braces our hearts. For when He died on that cross He purchased us full forgiveness and redemption for all our sins, even our sins of mistreating God. His cross is what we can lean upon for comfort and strength. It whispers to us that everything will be alright. That God will not reject us or turn us away. Instead, He will always love us unconditionally. And Jesus' cross proves that, for it reminds us that He gave His body and blood to buy us a room in heaven. We can always have free room and board in God's kingdom thanks to Jesus Christ. And that's what refreshes us and braces up our hearts.

In essence, that was God's message to Abraham and Sarah, when He told them they would have a son, the forerunner of the Messiah, through whom the whole world would be blessed. And even though Sarah laughed at God and then tried to cover up her sin, God still loved her and gave her that child. For as He said in our text: "IS ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR THE LORD?" No, nothing is too difficult for the Almighty! Just as He was able to give a son to Abraham and Sarah, even though they were too old and past the age of child-bearing, so He was able to give the Son, the Messiah to Virgin Mary to save us from all our sins. And even our sins are not too difficult for Him to overcome. For by His death on the cross and His resurrection from the grave, Jesus has conquered them all and put them in their place forever.

No wonder, then, that Abraham and Sarah named their child, "Isaac." It's the Hebrew word that means: 'laughter.' And it was not only a reminder of Sarah's folly in laughing at God's power, but more importantly a reminder of the joy He had give them in the birth of their son. Even more so, it's a reminder of the joy that we have in Jesus. We can laugh with the joy of sinners who are forgiven. We can even laugh in the face of death, because we know we will live again. And my friends that's the hospitality that God offers us every single say, when He visits with us in His Word and Sacraments.

Nine-year-old Brent was in second grade, when most children his age were in fourth. He was big and clumsy, and learning was always a struggle. But Brent was also a gentle child, who would always defend the underdog and was well-like by his classmates. Brent's parents encouraged him to audition for the Sunday School Christmas program. He wanted to be a shepherd, but the teacher in charge of casting made him the innkeeper. She figured Brent's size would lend believability to the role, when he refused a room to the holy family. Mom and dad helped him with his lines, and during rehearsals all came off without a hitch. But on Christmas eve, the service and the music touched Brent in a special way. When Joseph knocked on the door, Brent opened it and growled. "What do you want?" "We seek lodging," Joseph replied. In a firm, deep voice Brent said, "There's no room in the inn." "Please, good innkeeper," Joseph pleaded. "This is my wife, Mary. She is with child and needs a place to rest." There was a long pause, as Brent looked at Mary. The teacher in charge thought that Brent had forgotten his line, so she whispered it to him. Still Brent remained silent. Ad libbing, Mary and Joseph turned and began to move away into the darkness. That's when Brent called out, "Don't go! You can have my room!"

Dear friends, that's what you call hospitality. In a sense, it's like what Jesus did for you and me. He gave up His room in heaven, so that you and I could have it. That's why He was born and suffered and died for us - to give us the hospitality of eternal life. May that wonderful gift move us like it did Brent. May it move us to visit with God daily in Word and prayer, and to treat Him with the same kind of hospitality that He has shown to us, by giving generously of our time, talents and treasures to serve Him, for Jesus' sake. Amen.

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