Posts Tagged ‘Oswald Chambers’

The Baffling Call of God

Tuesday, August 5th, 2008

Verse: “And all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man shall be accomplished….And they understood none of these things.
– Luke 18:31, 34

Quote: “If we are in communion with God and recognize that He is taking us into His purposes, we shall no longer try to find out what His purposes are.”

It is of no concern to us where God is leading, we are but to follow. We should never focus on, or even desire the end result. Our goal should be obedience, and our joy in the consistency in which we follow lest our future becomes brighter than the God who is present.

The Brave Comradeship of God

Monday, August 4th, 2008

Verse: “The He took unto Him the twelve.
– Luke 18:31

Quote: “The comradeship of God is made up out of men who know their poverty. He can do nothing with the man who thinks he is of use to God.”

We must put completely out of our mind the notion that God needs us in any shape or fashion. God chooses by His perfect grace and mercy to work through us and give us an opportunity to give back with what was never ours to begin with. Before you can be of use to God, you must realize your uselessness without Him.

The Big Compelling

Sunday, August 3rd, 2008

Verse: “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem.
– Luke 18:31

Quote: “We are not taken up into conscious agreement with God’s purpose, we are taken up into God’s purpose without any consciousness at all.”

We do not have to know where God is headed in order to follow Him effectively. His vision is so much clearer than ours, that it is impossible for us to see the end result the way He sees it. All we have to do is submit the way Jesus did in Jerusalem: “I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me” (John 5:30 NKJV).

The Discipline of Difficulty

Saturday, August 2nd, 2008

Verse: “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
– John 16:33

Quote: “An average view of the Christian life is that it means deliverance from trouble. It is deliverance in trouble, which is very different.”

This verse alone is enough to give courage to the weakest Christian will, but Chambers always has a way of expounding which sheds light in a new way. God never gives us more power than we need immediately, lest we store it up and attempt to rely on our silo instead of Him. If there were no trouble for us, God would get no glory from our choices. It is how we respond to God in trouble that reveals our true relationship to Him.

Where do you turn for strength when your world crashes down on you? Who do you call for help when calamity strikes? Do not make the mistake of resenting God when trouble befalls, but give Him praise as you overcome with the power He gives you.

Something More about His Ways

Friday, August 1st, 2008

Verse: “When Jesus had made an end of commanding His disciples, He departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.
– Matthew 11:1

Quote: “When we are certain of the way God is going to work, He will never work in that way any more.”

There are times when God sends us away so that He may work in the lives of those you have been ministering to. If you do not obey when He says “Go,” but stay behind and say “this is where my duty is,” you rob those people of the blessings and teachings of God.

We cannot predict how God will work, or where His work is for us, all we can do is obey immediately when He directs us. As soon as we feel that we have an idea on how God is going to work, He will change His methods until all you can do is rely squarely on His voice.

Till You Are Entirely His

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

Verse: “Let your endurance be a finished product, so that you may be finished and complete, with never a defect.
 – James 1:4 (Moffat)

Quote: “There should be nothing slovenly, whether it be in the way we eat and drink, or in the way we worship God.”

Everything we do should be deliberate; nothing should be half-hearted and nothing contrived. We should be in such constant communication with our Heavenly Father that every single action of our daily lives reflects His glory.

We are given countless opportunities throughout the day to live out a “thank you” to God by the decisions we make. Regardless if thousands of people are watching you or not a single one, you show gratitude to God’s blessings by the way you live out your life. Be deliberate.

How much worship does God receive from you outside an hour on Sunday mornings?

The Discipleship of Disillusionment

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

Verse: “Jesus did not commit Himself unto them…for He knew what was in man.
 – John 2:24-25

Quote: “Many of the cruel things in life spring from the fact that we suffer from illusions. We are not true to one another as facts; we are true only to our ideas of one another.”

We often demand things from one another that no human being can provide; only Jesus Christ can satisfy the “last aching abyss of the human heart.” Jesus knew precisely what we were capable of, which is why He didn’t trust man. But He also knew what God’s perfect grace was capable of, which is why He never gave up on anyone.

We have to lose the illusions we have that this world exists apart from God, and instead put our trust in His nature and rest in His shadow.

What Do You See in Your Clouds?

Tuesday, July 29th, 2008

Verse: “Behold, He cometh with clouds.
– Revelation 1:7

Quote: “There is a connection between the strange providences of God and what we know of Him, and we have to learn to interpret the mysteries of life in the light of our knowledge of God. Unless we can look the darkest, blackest fact full in the face without damaging God’s character, we do not yet know Him.”

I’m hanging out with my nephews right now and don’t really have time to expound, but I love that quote. I should be back on track tomorrow.

After Obedience–What?

Monday, July 28th, 2008

Verse: “And straightway He constrained His disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side…
– Mark 6:45

Quote: “His purpose is for this minute, not for something in the future.”

As Christians, we think of obedience as the first step towards God’s will for our lives. What Chambers is reminding us this morning is that obedience is God’s will for our lives. “What we call the process, God calls the end.”

God knows where He wants you 15 years from now, but it is immediate obedience that He is interested in. He gives you visions and dreams, but wants you to work them out now in your day to day life. Stop right now and ask God to speak to you; your only goal in view should be immediate obedience to His leading.

The Way to Know

Sunday, July 27th, 2008

Verse: “If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine…
– John 7:17

Quote: “The golden rule for understanding spiritually is not intellect, but obedience.”

If ever there is a time when you feel spiritually disconnected, or in the darkness, you can be sure there is something God has spoken which you do not intend to obey. Intellectually, we feel disconnected because of ignorance, but spiritually it is almost certainly a lack of obedience.  You may not have gone left when God said to go right, maybe you stayed still when God said “Go.” Obedience is heeding God’s direction immediately. You may hesitate before you obey, like the parable of the two sons in Matthew 21:28-32, but you will remain in the darkness until you do.