Embrace

I am absolutely convinced that nothing – nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable – absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way Jesus our Master has embraced us.

                                                                                                                                --Romans 8:39 (MSG)

…the way Jesus our Master has embraced us…

I have fed on this verse for over a month now, returning to the truth within it to feed me almost every single day.  After living through the last two years of what I affectionately refer to as grown up problems, I’ve read this verse in order to breathe some days.  Life collects weight as we get older, doesn’t it?  Paul knew that, too, and he knew we would need to be reminded that Jesus’ love isn’t negotiable.  As I read this verse this morning, I was reminded of what it means to be ‘embraced’ by Christ when I thought of my child and my love for my child. 

As I got my -not-so-baby- baby ready for her first day of school last year, I prepared to present her to her new class.  I picked out the perfect outfit, made the perfect breakfast, strapped on her pink sparkling backpack and excitedly got her together.  I knew I wouldn’t be with her all day so I fussed over every detail of her day so that she didn’t have to.  As we walked through the hall to her classroom, I pulled a little piece of hair out of her eyes, wiped milk from the side of her mouth, and dusted any last crumbs off of her outfit.  When we reached the door, I knelt down, turned her face to mine, pulled her close and enfolded her in a tight hug.  In that embrace, I whispered how I loved her in her ear.  I wanted my touch to convey to her that she is mine, and that I will always love her no matter what the outcome of her day.  Without saying much of anything, I wanted to reassure her that everything would be all right.  I hoped that my fragrance would linger on her skin and that she would gain confidence if she got nervous or scared in knowing she was mine.   I poured my heart into her with that embrace and silently prayed for her joy, peace and safety.  Plainly put, I offered her everything I had to offer in that embrace.  After I let her go, I went to talk to her teacher and made sure I knew the details of Clare’s morning, and that they knew where I could be reached if there was any need to call me.  Through this memory of this morning, I remember what it felt like to embrace my child.

Ladies…Jesus fusses over us.  He prepares us to be presented to God. No matter where you meet him or what shape you’re in when you do meet him each day, he touches up our soul, wipes away the stain of sin from our hearts, and embraces us in preparation to meet God.  With his full embrace, he reassures us that he will always love us no matter what.  His fragrance, the Holy Spirit, lingers over us for us to know that we are his; therefore, we can have confidence that he prepares our day so that we do not have to worry that any detail was neglected or unknown to him.  Accepting Christ as our Savior literally dresses us up spiritually so that Jesus can present us as flawless to God.  These are not sweet, sentimental words.  These are our truths as his children!

Today, if you are mired in grown up problems, look to our Lord Jesus.  Envision yourself as his child.  Remind yourself that he is fussing over you in preparation for whatever comes your way today and every day.  Feel him wiping you clean from your sins – every one of them, even the deep, dark secret ones that only you and he know about.   Smell the fragrance of our Savior on your skin and know that absolutely nothing can get between us and him, meaning nothing can ever take God’s love away from us.  In a world full of broken promises, this is one promise we can count on forever. 

Legacy

Have you thought about your legacy lately? Not many people like to think about their death and what comes afterward, but the truth is, we will all leave a legacy when we die our physical death. The good news is, we have a choice as to what that legacy looks like and whether it will have positive effects on our friends and loved ones when we're gone. The choices we make today and all the days that follow will have a lasting impact on future generations.

But, legacy is also important now, not just after we're gone. The world is watching how we live our lives. As we submit ourselves to the authority of the Holy Spirit we can rest in the fact that our lives will be a reflection of Jesus Christ. We have supernatural power flowing through us, making decisions for us. The Holy Spirit can convict us of our sin and set us on the right path again. The world needs to know there is Someone who loves us despite how many times we've messed up. We shouldn't keep this truth to ourselves.

We can live a godly legacy today that will encourage others as they make the narrow journey with Christ Jesus. Is it always easy? Not always. Is it satisfying? Most of the time. It means making decisions based on who Jesus is and not necessarily blending in with the world around us. That's what the word "holy" means; being set apart for God, sacred. It does NOT mean being perfect individuals nor does it mean we will have perfect lives without pain and suffering.

We are God's creatures, created in His image and therefore He knows better than we do what our needs are and what will bring us into closer fellowship with Him. Do you trust Him in all areas of your life? He knows that life is hard sometimes and is ready to reassure us through a friend, His Word or perhaps a rainbow. He pursues us gently and lovingly never turning away or leaving us without hope. He is serious about the covenant made thousands of years ago with Abraham.

Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”                              Genesis 9:16