Visitation In The Greek And Hebrew

Visitation is a great word.

"Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." - 1 Peter 2:12 KJV

It is a time when God shows up in a special way. It can be a time when people come by and turn someone's solitary time into a 'when two or more are gathered in my name' time.

In the Hebrew the word translated visitation is Pequddah (Strong's H6486) and it is also translated oversight, ordering, account and custody. Visitation is organized and scheduled even if it is as simple as say, 'Ok, Let's all meet at the cafe and go.'

The Greek word is Episkope (G1984) and that is also translated as 'office of a bishop' in 1 Timothy chapter 3 verse 1. In newer translations it is appears as 'overseer'... that person purposes to have sight that looks on the logistics of a situation from above. They get a higher vantage point and survey for the purpose of organizing what it happening.

"The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil." - 1 Timothy 3:1-7 ESV

Yes. Visitation is a beautiful word.

I can't help but think of my friends throughout the world who go to visit people to make them feel loved. They visit with hope in their hearts and words of grace in their mouths.

In the Hebrew scriptures the law required hospitality for those from outside who came to visit. After the cross we are commissioned to go and bring hospitality to people near and far.

"And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.' " - Mark 16:15 ESV

Yes. If we have a vision to organize trips to bless then God will show up and bless. Amazing.

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Making Room

Sometimes making room for things means getting rid of other things but that isn't always an easy process.

"Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles (Nations) seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." - Matthew 6:31-33 ESV

"Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD?

Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard." - Isaiah 58:4-8 ESV

In a way fasting makes room for something else in our lives. The time, enjoyment and satiation we get from eating food gets displaced and replaced and room is given for spiritual refreshment.

Can we displace animosity like a fasting person displaces food. Can we stop and make room for something else?

Seeking the kingdom of God first is going to require a rearrangement of our mental and emotional space. Decisions will need to be made.

There is an account in the Hebrew scriptures of a woman who made room for the prophet she saw passing by...

"One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food. And she said to her husband, 'Behold now, I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way. Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there.' One day he came there, and he turned into the chamber and rested there." - 2 Kings 4:8-11 ESV

Elisha then made his own inquiry about this families needs and sought to be a blessing to them. God gave that barren couple a child. They sought the kingdom of God first and made room for Him in their house and God expanded their house in other ways.

God knows what would be a blessing to us. Perhaps we need to make room for those things by getting rid of the stuff that takes up that space in our minds and hearts.

We can miss a meal and give it to someone else. We can take some time to see about someone else's freedom from bondage with grace words instead of concentrating on our disappointments or failings.

Giving grace is the true fast that God desires. Giving grace and making room in our lives so that more grace can be given is a recipe for refreshment.

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The Decent Order of Grace - Part 13 - Forethought

"When I arrive, whomever you may approve, I will send them with letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem; and if it is fitting for me to go also, they will go with me. But I will come to you after I go through Macedonia, for I am going through Macedonia; and perhaps I will stay with you, or even spend the winter, so that you may send me on my way wherever I may go. For I do not wish to see you now just in passing; for I hope to remain with you for some time, if the Lord permits. But I will remain in Ephesus until Pentecost; for a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries." 1 Cor 16:3-9 NASB

Paul's organization has a decent order to it. Notice the spiritual autonomy given. The flexibility. He directed them to pick people but he reserved the right to send the people.

'If it is fitting' there talks about 'drawing down the scale'. Paul takes a look at the coming situation and guesses it's weigh but has a contingency plan in case the scales start to tip in one direction or the other.

Paul anticipates grace adjustments and the need for God's direction in the coming situation. He is willing to be the answer if necessary but does not take the whole project on himself. He is not a micro-manager but he keeps a hand on the project and does not let it go entirely either.

He leaves no possibility of failure. This thing is going to happen it is just a matter of when, how and with whom it will happen.

Paul is on the move and he does not function from deficit motivation. It is all 'Win / Win' because God is in it.

The mission centers around people and relationships and not the project itself. The project is a vehicle to be with people and Paul is sensitive to people to give them a 'heads up' so that they can plan. 'Perhaps I will stay with you' leaves room for housing plans... 'or even spend the winter' tells them to prepare for a possible lengthy stay... 'I will remain in Ephesus until Pentecost' gives them a target time period. The Lord's coming may be imminent but not Paul's.

Paul doesn't just want to be there for a few minutes or days. He wants time to be with people. He wants to leave knowing the children's names... after many prayers, raps, bible times and meals together.

He sees life as ministry and that ministry has a wide door of effectiveness. Yes, There will be problems and maybe people who generate problems but ministry has impact we can't measure because it is done by faith. Faith pleases God... Biblical Christ centered faith.

Much can be learned about directing troop movement by studying David and Joshua. They were men who led armies. Much can be learned about directing volunteers by studying Paul. Gracious leadership is needed. It is needed wherever there are initiators and responders.

Fear is a powerful tool but what will that produce? The promise of promotion is often the carrot dangled to get things done but that eventually produces power hungry leadership. Gracious order weeds out lust and carnal motivators because it promises a cross not a prize. It strengthens relationships not lust patterns.