Listen

The Lord appeared to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre while he sat at the entrance of his tent in the day’s heat. He looked up and suddenly saw three men standing near him. As soon as he saw them, he ran from his tent entrance to greet them and bowed deeply.

Genesis 18:1-2

Think

Stranger Danger! Can you still remember your parents teaching you some form of “Don’t talk to strangers!” as a little kid to help keep you safe?

Yet in our story today Abraham sees three strangers nearby where he lives and makes a very different choice. It’s hot that day, and he could have just kept sitting comfortably by his home. But instead he doesn’t even wait for the men to come to him. He runs to meet them. He moves from his comfortable rest to meet the strangers. By doing so, he meets God. Maybe Abraham knew that the Lord was in his midst. Maybe he just knew how hot he was and imagined how hot these strangers must be too.

Our parents are wise to protect us as little kids from dangerous strangers. But certainly there are “strangers” in the midst of our comfort zones to whom we too could reach out today in welcome. The loners at school? The coworker alone in the staff room? Warning though: we also might encounter God in that welcoming.

Molly Logan

Pray

Gracious and loving God, I know I can get too comfortable some times. Help me to move from my comfort zone and reach out to those who need a welcome in our world, as you reach out to us with your welcoming love and grace. Amen.

Go

Lord, you have examined me. You know me. You know when I sit down and when I stand up. Even from far away, you comprehend my plans. You study my traveling and resting. You are thoroughly familiar with all my ways. There isn’t a word on my tongue, Lord, that you don’t already know completely. You surround me—front and back. You put your hand on me.

Psalm 139:1-5

God knows you and loves you.

Receive and live in the reality of that gracious encounter and embrace today.