Establishing the Church
So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the LORD.
GENESIS 13:18
+
Establishing the Church
Moses takes special care to mention that there [Abraham] built an altar to the Lord; that is, as I stated above, Abraham preached at that place and gave instruction about the true worship of God. But this is no small comfort, that God gathers remnants from the heathen and lets them partake of the blessing of Abraham. Unless Mamre had been a godly and pious man and, like Abraham, had believed in the true God and had heard His Word from Abraham, he would not have received Abraham hospitably; nor would Abraham have gone to him. Even at that time, therefore, God had His worshipers among the heathen, worshipers whom He called in a marvelous manner through the holy patriarch, in accordance with the promise given him above in chapter 12:3: "You will be a blessing"; that is, "The blessing is so inherent in you that wherever you may come, others will also receive a blessing through your ministry." .. . The holy patriarchs were especially zealous in endeavoring to bring as many as possible to the knowledge of God. Therefore Abraham not only takes care of his household, but he also builds an altar. There he teaches the true religion; there he calls upon God; there he publicly practices the outward forms of worship. The Amorite Mamre and his brothers join him, and so a large church is established.
GENESIS 13:18
+
Establishing the Church
Moses takes special care to mention that there [Abraham] built an altar to the Lord; that is, as I stated above, Abraham preached at that place and gave instruction about the true worship of God. But this is no small comfort, that God gathers remnants from the heathen and lets them partake of the blessing of Abraham. Unless Mamre had been a godly and pious man and, like Abraham, had believed in the true God and had heard His Word from Abraham, he would not have received Abraham hospitably; nor would Abraham have gone to him. Even at that time, therefore, God had His worshipers among the heathen, worshipers whom He called in a marvelous manner through the holy patriarch, in accordance with the promise given him above in chapter 12:3: "You will be a blessing"; that is, "The blessing is so inherent in you that wherever you may come, others will also receive a blessing through your ministry." .. . The holy patriarchs were especially zealous in endeavoring to bring as many as possible to the knowledge of God. Therefore Abraham not only takes care of his household, but he also builds an altar. There he teaches the true religion; there he calls upon God; there he publicly practices the outward forms of worship. The Amorite Mamre and his brothers join him, and so a large church is established.
Posted in Daily Devotions
Recent
Archive
2026
January
In The GardenBy Your Own LawA Kingdom Not From HereThe King Who Bears Witness to the TruthWhich Jesus Will You Have?Behold the King We MockedBehold the Man, Lifted for YouAuthority from Above, Glory from the CrossBehold Your King, Lifted Up to JudgeThe Place of the SkullIt Is WrittenEvery Promise KeptStabat MaterIt Is FinishedThese Three TestifyA True TestimonyA Quiet Courage at the CrossThe Empty Tomb and the Wounded SaviorSeeing, Believing, and the Linen Left BehindCalled by Name in the GardenDo Not Cling, Go and TellPeace in Wounded HandsThe Wounds That Speak PeaceYou May Have LifeMy Lord and My GodFishingIt Is the LordThey KnewFeed My LambsFollow HimFollowing Jesus, Not Comparing Paths
February
The Testimony That Is EnoughBefore Kings, Before the CrossBefore You Were Born, the Word Was GivenSet Like FlintRemembering First LoveForsaking the FountainBroken Cisterns and the Living CrossAshamed of Our False RescuesForgottenWe Have SinnedLift Up Your EyesLike SisterReturn to the LordThe Gift of ShepherdsOur Only HopeShame That Leads to SalvationCircumcised HeartsBlow the Trumpet in the LandWhen Wisdom FailsThe Storm We Have SummonedThe Sound of the TrumpetWhen Wisdom Becomes FollyThe Earth Shall MournCan You Find One?There Is No DifferenceThe Lord Must InterveneSpeak TruthEnduring Nation
2025
January
Not AshamedIn Every RespectWe Are In His HouseHear His VoiceTodayBut You BelieveRest in ChristRest in FaithRest in Christ’s WordConfidence in Our Great High PriestOur Eternal High PriestCalled by GracePerfect Through SufferingA Little MilkFoundationGod Comes to UsFaith in ChristObtaining the PromiseThe King of PeaceBlessed by the SuperiorA Priest Forever in ChristThe Forever PriestA Better HopeOur Eternal IntercessorOur Perfect High PriestOur Eternal High PriestThe Better Covenant in ChristA New CovenantPromises KeptOnly The High PriestNot the Blood of Goats