Encouragement

Loved But Not Embraced

by "Leta - Message Bringer"
11/13/23
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The One Thing That Is Necessary.

Turn completely to Him, face to face.

For you are not doing this for yourself only, but also for the All Mighty’s chosen ones; the elect, and in the furthering of His kingdom. 

If we choose  to completely submit to His calling us, and  in turn choose his way completely, turning our backs on our previous life, we will find our lives in the Savior, fulfill His purpose and finish the course.

I must admit when the Savior first gave me this title: “Loved, But Not Embraced”, I was flooded with so many different impressions and ideas of what this may mean. What are You showing me? What will You teach me? I thought maybe  He was speaking of how we pull away from Him because we've been hurt so much by the world. Maybe that was one possibility. I thought maybe it was about that mushy, cushy, lovey, dovey warm feeling of worshipping Him, and that we should draw closer to Him; which we should.  Maybe He wants to address particular pains and sorrows, that we as His body have endured, yet even with that we  fail to draw near to Him.  What else did I think?  There was so much going through my mind that He might want to show me.

Honestly, I have wrestled for months with this topic.  It’s caused me to do serious soul searching (a lot of tears).  As I pondered, I wrestled with myself. But why?  I tell you the truth, this topic has created a ruckus within.  Through simply the topic; without writing a thing, the Spirit has shown me many unresolved issues within myself; of which, I had not totally committed to Him, let alone the true reason for this topic.  “Father, I pray in your name that you will show us and teach us from your word what You mean by “Loved but not Embraced”,  so that we might embrace you according to your word and according to your will, according to your truth.” Amen

It's About Choice & Commitment 

When I began to think about this topic I continued  to envision, initially someone’s back  turned away from me and focused on and enamored with the Savior.  I kept sensing the Holy Spirit’s desire for me to draw closer to Him.  What is this I thought?  What is going on?  The pull became stronger and stronger until I finally understood.  He was speaking to my heart, “The Master has chosen you and now it’s time to completely choose Him”.  Maybe He is saying the same to you.  What does this mean?  I committed my life to You years ago, but now I see, even as I am writing this article, I had yet to choose the good portion.  Yes, I pray a lot.  I sit in His presence.  He knows my heart; just as He knows and understands our pondering, but the Spirit was speaking to my heart; in a deeper fashion, it’s time to embrace Him completely.  What does He mean, embrace Him completely?

When I look back at that vision what is it that I see?  I used the word enamored  when I spoke of my gaze  of and looking at Yeshua (if you can become abandoned of all earthly reason and rationale to Yeshua, in my opinion, you are completely enamored with Him, and  completely in love with Him, to the point of total submission, obedience and abandonment of self will to Him and to His will). 

It’s been difficult to find the words of what I’ve known for weeks. The Spirit’s been saying this to me, and I know to others.  I have chosen you, and now it is time for you to embrace Me completely.  To be enamored totally and completely to the Savior, and abandoned to self and the cares of the world, cleaving only to Jesus (Yeshua). 

Chosen Ones Who Refuse

The choice to choose Christ is the freedom He gives everyone.  Just as He has given us liberty in Him, he also gives us freedom to remain in bondage to the beggarly things of this world or to embrace Him, and abandon the hinderances and cares of the world.

The story of Martha and Mary; as well as the Parable of the King and the Marriage Supper, explains this so beautifully.  Remember Matthew 22 beginning with verse three which is the story of the King who prepared a marriage for his son.  At the onset of the story, he sent out an invitation to those whom he had chosen and invited them to the marriage (Notice it says, marriage not wedding, but marriage.  There is a difference,  that is a topic for another time). They would not come.  Towards the end of the parable he sent his servants out; yet one last time and called and invited those on the highways and byways; those both good and bad, which heard his call and came to attend the marriage.  The king went to greet those whom he had invited and noticed one who was not properly dressed.  Here is the parable:

“And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,  and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.  Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.  But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:  And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.  But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.  Then saith he to his servants, “The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.  Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.  So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:  And he saith unto him, friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  For many are called, but few are chosen.”  Matthew. 22:1-14  KJV

Wedding Garments Required

It was the custom in ancient days to provide wedding garments for the guest who had been chosen and invited to the marriage.  The reason for the garments provided were that all guest were looked at equally.  The attention was not to be towards those who was attending the wedding but on the wedding and the bride and groom.  All in attendance were viewed as equals.  This gave the guest the freedom to associate and interact freely without judgement of class or platitude.  These garments were made of white and non-descript, so that total attention is given to the marriage of the groom and his bride.

It is apparent that the man who attempted to attend the wedding without changing i.e. choosing to humble himself into obedience of the King, and change his clothing to represent righteousness, was showing total defiance to the orders of the king.  Of course the king was angered by his defiance, and cast that man out to be punished.

If you read and study the full chapter (which I highly recommend you do),  please notice the steps the king took to have guest be present for his son’s wedding.  Firstly, he invited the ones who had been chosen.  They all refused.  He then called out to the chosen again, but they made light of it. He had chosen them, but they did not choose him.  They thought too highly of themselves. The ones who were left killed the servants that the king had sent.  When he heard about it, he was wroth so, he killed the murderers and burned their cities.  All along the king continued to prepare for the wedding.  His last attempt was to call out for those on the highways and byways.

There were some; the physical seed of Israel that were chosen (bidden) to come, who refused to come, made light of his invitation, and killed and murdered those who brought the invitation to them.  There were those who did finally respond favorably to his invitation and came as guest to the wedding.  Among them was a man who refused to change attire, and was speechless when asked why he wasn’t properly dressed.

What I see in this when many are called, but few are chosen, is whether you are a chosen seed or responding to his invitation from the highways and byways, there is still protocol to follow.  This protocol is yes, respond to his invitation, but also follow the guidelines, His teachings, His doctrine. They are not suggestions, but orders.

When we truly turn to Yeshua (Jesus), we turn our backs to the things of the world, ourselves, and yes our own will to wear the robe of righteousness the Father of the groom has provided.

Mary Has Chosen The Good Portion 

What does this mean?  Have you ever been face to face with yourself?  Have you ever looked at who you are?  What do you want?  What does your flesh and your will desire? What will you do and not do as a follower of Christ?  Well,  recently I was faced with a rude awakening of myself.  To be quite honest, I was surprised to see  who I truly was as I was face to face with Leta, and  with the truth that I had not actually embraced Christ as He has embraced me.  I believed I had done all, but I realize now there is much more to this than what the preacher taught me.  Oddly enough, I thought I had arrived.  Yes, but where had I arrived?

I love my Heavenly Father.  I love my Savior Yeshua, and, I loved myself too much.  So much to the point that when pressed I’d on occasion yield to my own will instead of His.  I am so thankful for the patience and long suffering of my Father, who through His Son, has saved me.  His love, patience and long suffering is unwavering, I am so thankful that He’s been this way towards me while I wrestled with learning this about myself. 

Now, let’s look at the story of Mary and Martha. 

As I mentioned earlier, when this topic was laid on my heart, the very first thing I envisioned was a woman sitting at the feet of our Savior. 

Paul stated in Acts 22:3 that he sat at Gamaliel’s feet:

“I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.” 

Another example of those sitting at the feet of their teacher is found here in: 2Kings 4:38

“When Elisha returned to Gilgal, there was a famine in the land. As the sons of the prophets were sitting at his feet, he said to his attendant, "Put on the large pot and boil some stew for the sons of the prophets."

What I have learned is, that in ancient Hebrew culture when one would sit at the feet of the teacher, this is a gesture showing submission to the teacher’s doctrine, and a yielding to do as he instructs.  In doing this they were doing so to inherit something from their teacher.

In Luke 10:38-42 this is what we find: 

“As they traveled along, Jesus entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at Yeshua’s feet listening to His message.  But Martha was distracted by all the preparations to be made. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” Yeshua replied, “you are worried and upset about many things.   But only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion (the one thing that is necessary),and it will not be taken away from her.” 

Mary sat at the Messiah’s feet as was taught in their culture to do; when you have submitted to as a disciple, to hear and learn the teacher’s doctrine.  In this position, you have agreed to listen, learn and obey your teacher’s instruction concerning all things.  Just as Paul, for example stated, that he sat at the feet of Gamaliel his teacher.  Mary had chosen to be taught by the Master.  She chose to embrace what is needed.  She chose her inheritance.  Her portion.  Her lot.

This is a scripture pertaining to Christ.  He is the Gate; The Good Shepherd.  The Father has led me to it countless times to meditate on.  I believe it applies to us all as His disciples just as it applied to the Savior. 

The Servant’s Obedience  Isaiah 50:4-8
(Matthew 27:27–31; Mark 15:16–20; Luke 22:63–65; John 19:1–15)

The LORD GOD has given Me

the tongue of discipleship,

to sustain the weary with a word.

He awakens Me morning by morning;

He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.

The LORD GOD has opened My ears,

and I have not been rebellious,

nor have I turned back….

I offered My back to those who struck Me,

and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard.

I did not hide My face from scorn and spittle.

Because the LORD GOD helps Me,

I have not been disgraced;

therefore I have set My face like flint,

and I know that I will not be put to shame.

The One who vindicates Me is near.

Thus choosing the good portion is choosing to embrace total submission to our Savior. In doing this, we are truly becoming His disciple and follower, suitable for the Master’s use.  Abandon all cares to inherit your portion in Christ and  inherit the Kingdom that was prepared for you before the foundation of the world.

Total abandonment to the cares of this world “Love and Embrace Christ the Anointed One.  Follow and obey His teaching.  Choose Him just as He has chosen you.  Embrace Him as He has embraced you and He will never leave you. When you embrace Him, the good portion will never be taken away from you.  This is what matters most.  This is the good portion.   

What’s Your Decision?

By now you are either totally excited or antsy.  Maybe you are saying yes, but how? Let me put your mind at ease. It’s through His grace by faith. The truth about all of this is that the LORD has made provision for everything He desires for us.  The wonderful gift of His Spirit being in you and with you is how this happens.  So relax.  Can’t you see how He’s done all the work if you simply trust and believe on Him.  The LORD  has said that He will teach us.  It’s He himself who draws us.  What we must do is embrace Him.  You already love Him.  In choosing Him and trusting Him, everything will come together and fall into place just as He planned.  It’s all worked out if you love and embrace Him. 

Family, please ponder and consider my words.  Trust in the LORD with all your heart.  Don’t lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.

You don’t have to be perfect to sit at His feet.  Just yielded.

A Quote from Katherine khulman: 

“He does not ask for a golden vessell.  He does not ask for a silver vessell.  He just ask for you, as a vessell.  i have no talent.   born without anything.  I have nothing.  So, i can easily say take nothing and use it, but for some of you it may be a little harder to die on that cross.  your cross.  what are you going to do about it when you face that cross?  Remember, you are facing what you want most.  i made my decision.  and i’m  glad that i made it.  it cost much, but what do you want most?”

Just as Jacob wrestled with the Angel of the LORD, and said to him, “I will not let you go until  you bless me.”  Do so until you have chosen the good portion from the Master and receive your portion.