Embracing the Place

 

"And you, because of my blood covenant with you, I'll release your prisoners from their hopeless cells. Come home, hope-filled prisoners! This very day I'm declaring a double bonus-- everything you lost returned twice-over!"

Zec 9:11-12 MSG

 The above was spoken while most of the nation of Israel was still in captivity.  Only a comparative handful had been allowed to return to rebuild the ruined city of Jerusalem.  For most their freedom would not come for many more years.

 Consider also that this prophecy is in reference to our day when Israel will be delivered from the hand of the Anti-Christ and established forever under the banner of Jehovah.  Much of this is yet to be fulfilled.

 Yet God speaks in the present tense.  It is a done deal on His end.  They had only to put their faith in Him and not loose hope because the promise on their end would involve waiting to see it come to pass.

 Through Jeremiah God had spoken to these captives saying,

 “This is the Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, Israel's God, to  all the exiles I've taken from Jerusalem to Babylon: "Build houses and make yourselves at home. "Put in gardens and eat what grows in that country. "Marry and have children. Encourage your children to marry and have children so that you'll thrive in that country and not waste away. "Make yourselves at home there and work for the country's   welfare. "Pray for Babylon's well-being. If things go well for Babylon, things will go well for you."

 Jer 29:4-7 MSG

So while God was looking at the future as though it was the present He also spoke to the present and said basically “embrace the place where you are now.  I have some good I want to work in you where you are in preparation for this glorious future I have outlined.”

One of the hardest things many of us will ever do is embrace the present while knowing there is a future yet to come especially when the present isn’t exactly the happiest place on earth.

We must understand that where we are right now is where we should be if we are going to have the future God has shown us.

We must not only learn to endure but find God’s presence just as active where we are as we think He will be in our future.

Embracing the place is really embracing the God who is in the place.  The place may be a place of physical weariness and testing, it may be a place emotional distress; it could be a place of persecution.  Regardless of where that place is God is in that place and we must find Him there.

If we cannot find God in the place where we are how can we expect to find Him in any other place?

 It may help if you will keep these words in mind while you are in the place you are at the present time:

“Let us see that God is more concerned with the condition of our hearts than the activity of our hands.  What we become to Him is far more consequential than all we shall ever do for Him.  Scripture tells us the Lord “jealously desires the spirit which He has made to dwell in us” (James 4:5).  Thus, if our devotion to our task exceeds our devotion to Him, He will personally hinder our success.”  Francis Frangapane, “The Place of Immunity,” (Retitled: “The Shelter of the Most High”) pp. 21,22.

 

Jesus embraced the place when He came to earth to be the means of redemption for us.  Hebrews tells us He despised the shame of the place but because of the joy that surpassed that place He endured and triumphed in the place where He was (Hebrews 12:2).  He was able to do this because He knew His Father was in that place. 

Embracing the place doesn’t mean you like it, enjoy it, are thrilled by it, or any such thing.  It simply means  you know that God is in it and will sustain you, guide you, even bless you and help you in that place just as much as He will any other place you may get to walk through in your journey of discovery.

Embracing the place allows you to find the wellsprings that are there but not readily seen (Psalm 84:5 – 7).

Embracing the place where you are doesn’t mean that is where you are going to stay for the rest of your life.  In fact, embracing the place you presently are in may actually hasten your exit from it.  The place you are in today is not the place you may be in tomorrow. 

 All the various places we have experienced in our lives are stepping stones that ultimately lead to the heart of God if we will learn to find Him in the place we currently find ourselves in.

 “But what if I got into this place through foolishness or pride and my own stupidity?”  There is no situation you have gotten yourself into God can’t work in if you will embrace Him there and open your heart to Him.  He is a wonderful redeemer and fixer of messes we make.  

For strength in this matter take these words to heart:

We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.

Rom 8:28 AMP

The Message says:

 That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

Rom 8:28 MSG

Finally, listen to our brother Paul:

Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.

Philippians 4:11-13 MSG