I Want to Hug Jesus

I want to hug Jesus. It sounds kind of lame doesn't it? Almost feminine sounding! "I want to embrace Jesus" doesn't sound much better. Anyway, I woke up in the middle of the night wanting to hug Jesus. What was I thinking?

I think it started yesterday with a few hugs from friends. I'm leaving the country for eight days and a few people hugged me goodbye. A hug means a lot of neat things: wish you well, you matter, I love you, you're important to me, etc. A hug gives comfort, understanding, and even confidence.

Then in the middle of the night I just snuggled up with my wife. A snuggle is as good as a hug. It's funny because she travels more than I and it's not that unusual to sleep alone. Heck, sometimes I even enjoy it - spreading out all over the bed with a bunch of pillows. But this time it was me doing the leaving not the one being left behind. So, I just wanted to hug her in the middle of the night - and I did. A hug gives you comfort, understanding, and even confidence.

Next I got to thinking about hugging Jesus. I want to hug Jesus. How lucky Mary and Joseph were to hug Him on a regular basis. How lucky for the disciples to hug God in the flesh. I want to hug Jesus!

My friend Pastor Rick says, "Sometimes we need a person to show us who God is". Maybe that's what I'm feeling. I can't hug Jesus but Jesus can hug me through people.

When I get to heaven I don't know if I will be allowed to hug Jesus. I'm sure I'll be content to just fall on my knees and worship Him from a distance - but, oh how I would love to hug Jesus.

Yet, there is one better thing. What if Jesus to come up and hug me?

The Blessings of our Human Nature

I get so frustrated with my human nature - battling sin, pride, selfishness, fear, and anxiety, etc. This transformation stuff seems so hard and takes too long. "God, why did you make us with this fallen capacity? Yet our desire to be transformed and worship You better is so strong. Put us out of our misery and change us immediately or take us home!" Have you ever felt that way?

Early this morning God woke me up to pray. I was having a great time praising Him. Then it dawned on me. This is the blessing of our human nature (not sinful nature) - the capacity to praise the Lord so powerfully. I know all nature praises God in its own way but surely the crown of His creation, man made in His own image, can far exceed in worship above any other created thing.

The birds of the air and lilies of the field do not fret and worry but my human nature sure has the capacity to be anxious! Yet, isn't that an amazing capacity? I can worry! Oh, but I can also cast my cares on Him and worship Him like no other creature.

Okay, maybe the angels have us beat in this worship thing (not that it is a competition). But join me today in celebrating our humanness for we are indeed fearfully and wonderfully made. And, being transformed even if it is so slow!