How long has it been since you embraced something extra-ordinary? Hebrews 11:13 informs us that those who had faith saw the promises from afar, and “embraced” them — stretched out their arms, drew them to themselves, in faith embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims in this world in transit to another country — “the Father’s land” — Future Earth.
We settle for less when we are selective in what we embrace, as did many in the church at Corinth (1 Corinthians 3:3-5). God promised Abraham the world! (Romans 4:13) This earth and everything in it is God’s to give and ours to embrace in faith and draw to ourselves.
Many have divided Bible Truth into dispensations – different eras of God’s administration. They confine spiritual gifts to the days of the first apostles and postpone to the future the promised kingdom of God. But all things are ours! (1 Corinthians 3:3-5) They belong to all believers, and those that are future can be embraced in the present.
Many have limited their experience to that of the founder of their denomination. But Luther (Salvation through Grace alone) is ours, Knox (church eldership) is ours, Calvin (God’s Sovereignty) is ours, Wesley (Sanctification) is ours, Booth (evangelism and social change), and Billy Graham (Individual Responsibility and Personal Decision) –are ours. All things are ours!
Some believers focus on certain great men of God and the importance of their messages. But evangelicals such as Spurgeon, Finney and Graham are ours! The Pentecostal Gift of the Holy Spirit is ours! The charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit are ours! Holiness is ours! We need to embrace God’s call and His promises as passionately as the Old Testament faith heroes did (Hebrews 11).
Faith to worship God sacrificially (Abel)
Faith to walk alone with God devotionally (Enoch)
Faith to build for future security (Noah)
Faith to go in a new and opposite direction (Abram)
Faith to walk away from worldly status and position (Moses)
Faith to “enter into” and to possess God promises (Joshua)
We need to embrace John 3:16 (the Cross), Acts 2:4 (the Baptism in the Spirit), 1 Corinthians 12 (spiritual gifts) and 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (entire sanctification of spirit, soul and body). All these arel ours — not just some of them, and we don’t get to select those we desire and reject those we don’t.
The NT Greek word for “greet” and “salute” — and even “farewell” (“aspazomai”) means: “to draw to oneself”, “to embrace”. This word is used by the apostle Paul 21 times in Romans chapter 16, when greeting the brethren with a “holy kiss” — as do the French and other Europeans. (Russians greet one another by kissing both cheeks.)
Significantly, Romans 16 verse 17 warns us against those who cause church division. After encouraging believers to embrace, Paul warns the church about division! Factions in the Corinthian church were dividing God’s people into differing groups, each group modelling its behaviour on different ministries (1 Corinthians 3:4-5). But in closing the subject, Paul writes, “Let no man glory in men. For all things are yours.”
This is possessive but not selective or divisive. Paul is encouraging his readers to embrace not just one ministry but all ministries! “All things are yours – Paul, Apollos, Peter, the world, life, death, things present, things to come – all things are yours.” (1 Corinthians 3:21-23)
How possessive should we be of the things God has provided? As possessive as Christ is of us and as God is of Christ (verse 23). How long is it since having seen all of God’s promises as belonging to you you have embraced them?
Make this statement: “I embrace and possess all things that are mine in Christ — gifts, ministries, good health, strong relationships, close fellowship, and constant experiences of God’s love, grace, mercy, peace and power — all of which are mine in Jesus!”
Did this welcoming and all-embracing statement of faith make your head spin and your heart throb? I hope so! Embracing God’s promises with open arms is A Hug to End All Hugs!