A Two Way Hug

In reading “My Utmost For His Highest” this morning, I came across something profound, yet simple (those are always the best truths). This was Oswald Chambers’ quote: “And yet you go away with nothing, whilst all the time God has stood with outstretched hands not only to take you, but for you to take Him.”

It makes me think of a Soap Opera, or just the drama of high school and middle school, where someone can just stand there and “take” a hug, and not return it. You’ve probably done it. You just stand there, with your arms down to your side, and let someone hug you. It’s not really defying them, per se, because it’s not an order on their part, but rather just rejection. God doesn’t order us to hug Him, nor does He run to us: He stands where He is, with His arms open. It’s up to us not only run to Him, but hug Him, as well.

You can’t do one without the other. Hugging Him from a distance makes little, if any, sense, and simply going to stand in front of Him does littler more good. He is hugging all of us today. Are we hugging Him back?