Ever been involved in a “one way hug”? . . . either as the hugger or the huggee? You know . . . when you’re so glad to see someone that you rush up to them and wrap your arms around them and they just stand there with their arms at their side . . . not returning even a little squeeze. Or, on the other end, someone’s wrapped their arms around you . . . giving you a bear hug that squeezes the air out of you . . . burying their head in your shoulder . . . and you just stand there like a mannequin . . . and kind of turn your head away . . . asking yourself, “Who is this person? And, why are they doing this to me?” . . . not an ounce of compulsion in you to hug back. Well, that’s what came to mind this morning as I continue to read of, and meditate on, Paul’s determination to pursue Christ . . .

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.” — Philippians 3:12

Paul was determined and driven to hug back. Christ had laid hold of him . . . reached out and grabbed him . . . determined to make Paul His own. Literally, the Risen Savior apprehended Paul . . . he took possession of this Hebrew of the Hebrews . . . but him in a death grip (death to the old man) . . . and squeezed the breath of heaven into him. While Paul was yet without strength to save himself . . . still in his sin . . . still an enemy . . . Christ died for the zealous Pharisee. And not only did He die for this misguided sinner, He then sought him . . . and met him on the road . . . and revealed Himself to him . . . and gave him a new heart . . . and claimed him for His own. Christ laid hold of Paul . . . apprehended him . . . gave him a big, heavenly bear hug. The question remaining then, would Paul hug back?

You can’t help but be inspired as you read this section of Holy Scripture. Paul’s heart comes gushing forth as he determines to have no confidence in his own abilities or accomplishments (3:3b) . . . as he counts all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ and seeks to “gain Christ” (3:8) . . . and be found in Christ (3:9) . . . and know Him who had become Paul’s righteousness (3:10) . . . to press on, and lay hold, of that for which Christ had laid hold of him . . . to hug back! Christ gave His all for Paul? Paul wanted to give His all for Christ. Christ had blessed Paul with every spiritual blessings in the heavenlies? Paul wanted to know, experientially, each and every one of them. Christ had called Paul to lay up treasure in heaven? Paul was determined to deposit the max amount in his eternal bank account. You get the idea . . . you can go on and on . . . Paul did.

How awkward is to think of Christ loving me . . . laying hold of me . . . apprehending me . . . wrapping His arms around me . . . and I just stand there . . . limp . . . my arms at my side . . . not returning the embrace in the slightest or, just half-heartedly. Christ pulls me to Himself, longing to get deep and personal, to gaze deeply into my eyes, and soul, and heart . . . and I just kind of look away . . . distracted by the world . . . or worse yet, longing instead to return the world’s embrace.

Rather, I should hug back . . . I should lay hold of . . . I should apprehend . . . I should wrap my arms around that which is mine in Christ. I should be giving, as it were, the Great Shepherd a great bear hug . . . drawing near to Him, knowing that He will draw near in return. “Word of God speak,” should be my cry. “Spirit of God lead and sanctify,” should be my plea. “Son of God, I press on to lay hold of You and all that You have called me to,” should be my bottom-line driving desire.

Oh, by God’s grace, I don’t want to be a limp, passive, laid hold of soul of Christ who doesn’t lay hold in return. I want to hug back . . . that I might know Him and the power of His resurrection and yes, (takes a deep breath) . . . even the fellowship of His suffering, if it is required to press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (3:10,11,14). For His glory . . . amen.