Photo by Eduardo-Ramos-on Unsplash
In the New Testament gospel of Mark, Jesus tells us to embrace the God life.
“Jesus was matter-of-fact: “Embrace this God-life. Really embrace it.”
Mark 11:22 The Message
Embrace:
“To fully and willingly accept or welcome a situation, idea, or opportunity, often with enthusiasm and a positive attitude, rather than simply tolerating it. It implies adopting something or actively engaging with it, even if it’s challenging or unfamiliar.” (Source: Gemini)
To fully (or completely) and willingly accept is another way of saying surrender.
I like the picture this definition paints.
You embrace (change, surrender, or whatever the situation) it with enthusiasm and a positive attitude.
It is not a spur-of-the-moment decision.
It is a thoughtfully meaningful decision made with your complete understanding (as much as you can understand the mind of God).
Consider Jesus’ words
“Embrace this God-life. Really embrace it.”
In other words, surrender, really surrender.
He seems to be saying, Don’t partially surrender, but truly surrender.
How do you partially surrender?
It’s a great question, and when you think about it, we do it all the time.
We say things in the heat of the moment (and may partially mean it) without giving any serious consideration to what we are saying.
For example, have you ever been in a tight spot and cried out to God, saying, “If you get me out of this, I will…”?
If you have walked with God for any length of time, of course, you have.
The challenge arises after the moment is gone and the emotion has passed; what do you do then?
Generally, you go on your merry way, with little to no thought about what you said.
Why?
Because we partially surrendered, or to put it another way, we surrendered with our emotions and not with our hearts.
One day, while talking with the religious leaders, Jesus offered some harsh words.
“Jesus answered, “Isaiah was right about frauds like you, hit the bull’s-eye in fact: These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their heart isn’t in it.”
Mark 7:6 The Message
The point isn’t to draw a comparison between the religious leaders and someone in a tight spot. The point is that your mouth can say something that does not align with your heart.
In other words, you partially surrender (If you get me out of this…) when you say something that you know in your heart you do not agree with (I will…).
This subject delves deeply into why things happen in your life the way they do, but my focus today is on embracing a surrendered life.
The Gemini definition of embrace says, “To fully and willingly accept or welcome a situation, idea, or opportunity.”
This can only be done with the heart, or a willful acknowledgment that you (not only accept, but) will welcome a:
- Situation
- Idea
- Opportunity
The Situation is bad, the Idea is to surrender, which you will not see as an Opportunity unless you are looking at it through God’s eyes.
That is the only way you can welcome it.
Like life, it is a process and not an event.
For example, water baptism is an event.
It is an outward expression of an inner commitment.
It is a proclamation of a changed life.
However, the event does not change your life.
A changed life comes one day at a time.
A changed life comes one (sometimes baby) step in front of the other.
A changed life comes with joyful accomplishments and heartbreaking setbacks.
In other words, it is a process.
I like the picture this definition paints, because it depicts a person with a willing heart, open mind, and positive attitude, which are characteristics of a God life.
As darkness covers the earth, a close personal relationship with God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is paramount in your life. Your life becomes a light in such darkness and brings hope to those struggling in your world.
The call of the Spirit is going out across the land for light bearers and (wisdom-speaking) truth givers to bring the words of life to a lost and dying world—one person at a time.
The journey is exciting and scary, and I am thankful for everyone willing to follow along as I take it.