Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McLester, OK
Feb. 13, 2012

| “Embracing God’s Mind”
“Throw your arms around her (meaning wisdom)—believe me, you won’t regret it!” – Proverbs 4:8 (The Message)

I am a softy at heart—I really am. There are movies that regardless of how many times I watch them I find myself crying. When I see “reunions,” such as when soldiers come home after military deployment and they are greeted by their families—their wives or husbands and they throw their arms around each other, how can you not be moved by such a scene?
Without question my favorites are those where a father surprises his child by going to their school. The child is completely unaware that their father (or mother) is home and when the soldier in uniform walks into that child’s classroom and that child sees that parent and runs (or leaps) into their open waiting arms—I am tearing up just thinking about it!
I would also like to draw a comparison between a “hug” and embrace. A hug is little more than a “close encounter.” It is really just a step above a handshake. Don’t misunderstand me, hugs are nice—I like them. I am the kind of person that is completely comfortable with both giving and receiving a hug. When I have not seen someone for an extended period of time—rather than shaking hands I prefer giving them a hug. However, a hug can often be bereft of emotion. You like the person you are hugging—you respect them but it does not necessarily mean you are emotionally attached to that person.
A good example: Back in the summer of 2010 I was watching Sports Center (ESPN) and they were showing highlights of a baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves. The Braves were managed by Bobby Cox, who at the time was the longest tenured manager in Major League Baseball. He had managed the Braves for nearly 30 years and most Baseball insiders believe that he is a shoe-in to be elected into the baseball Hall-of-Fame. The Cubs were managed by Lou Piniella who played baseball for a number of years and has managed for close to 25 years. Baseball insiders believe Piniella is also a certainty to join the Hall-of-Fame. The managers for both teams were retiring from Baseball and that day was to be the last time these two teams were to meet—the last time these two men will face each other on the baseball diamond. Before the game the two long-time managers brought their line-up cards to the head umpire and when they met they shook hands and then gave each other a very respectful “man-hug.”
For those who may not know, a “man-hug” is where you touch shoulders and tap each other on the back. It makes it look like you are hugging without getting too emotional about it. It’s a nice gesture—but not nearly as strong as what could be!
But an embrace, that is an entirely different entity altogether. An embrace is more than a show of respect and goes much deeper than a physical encounter; it is a deep emotional attachment that is intended to strengthen the bonds between the two individuals. In fact—I like this definition. An embrace is where two people are able to feel each other’s heartbeat, physically, emotionally and spiritually. To embrace wisdom is to experience God’s heartbeat.
Wisdom is not about knowing things. There are a number of people who know a lot of things but are they truly better for it? There are a lot of people who know about God and even respect Him—but where is it getting them? Wisdom is about knowing God! Solomon is calling us to embrace wisdom and God and by so doing we receive far more. To embrace God means so much more than giving lip-service, more than going to Church—it is being involved in God’s life! It is feeling His heartbeat. Do you want a great example of a “God-Embrace?” Read the parable of the Prodigal (lost) Son. As the son returns home from his self-deposed deployment, the father runs to him and embraces him. What a picture and one that reminds us how much God loves us!
Let’s embrace all God has for us and not just “touch shoulders” or tap-backs. It will mean more in the end.
Pastor J. T. Carnell