This remarkable book by Oswald Chambers is one that I highly recommend everyone to read. It is a day-by-day devotional that has everything to do with Christ, the Bible, and the Christian life.
The devo for January 31st is called "Do you see your calling?" Oswald writes, "And as long as our eyes are focused on our own personal holiness, we will never even get close to the full reality of redemption." The idea is that our calling is to proclaim the gospel of God. "The one all-important thing is that the gospel of God should be recognized as the abiding reality. Reality is not human goodness, or holiness, or heaven, or hell - it is redemption. [...] Christian workers fail because they place their desire for their own holiness above their desire to know God. [...] God cannot deliver me while my interest is merely in my own character."
Chambers uses Paul as an example of one who was unconcerned with his own life. "He was recklessly abandoned, totally surrendered, and separated by God for one purpose - to proclaim the gospel of God." We cannot be effective proclaimers if we are navel gazing and trying to make ourselves better. It is when we have given ourselves up to Christ that we can be gospel-proclaimers.
This doesn't mean we go to the other extreme and forget that we are sinners in need of a Savior. It simply means that we don't get bogged down in ourselves. By focusing outward on our Savior, we are better witnesses, both internally and externally. I was convicted by that. I compare myself a lot to other Christians who are more saintly than I am. I wish to achieve that holiness through myself rather than let Christ do His good work in me.
3 comments:
Excellent post! I have been going through the bible study called, "Seeking Him: Experiencing the Joy of Personal Revival" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Tim Grissom. Excellent study! We are currently looking at the chapter on Obedience. The next is holiness...
It is easy to become "religious", self-righteous. There seems to be a holy tension between what the Lord has already done and our continuing growth. I guess it is the difference between our justification and sanctification...
Anyway, you have stirred up some thoughts on this. Thank you!!! I hope you and your family are all well.
God Bless!
Karen
Eddie.. he he.. did you ever figure out that I nicknamed you that?... Well.. any way..
What a cool post! I like this: "recklessly abandoned, totally surrendered... " Steve calls me... "His All or Nothing Girl" Someone recently called our life "out of control" ... I think it was suppose to be a positive but the comment got me thinking a bit:.... am I really out of control? in a good sense? I like to think that I (we) am in the sense that I am really willing to do whatever is necessary for the Awesome News.. of God's mercy to go forth. And really why would I hold anything back.. because He gave up so much and for such a wicked sinner.. (have you read revealation lately... yikes.. when I read ch 18... it is all about the harlot and her wickedness... this is who I was!!??) BUT He had mercy on me! How can't I give up anything/everything for Him in return??? See All or Nothing!
I guess my prayer is that God continues to show me where I am holding back... where I need to sacrifice in order to be more effective and useful tool for the harvest.
It has been a bit since you wrote here and since I've come to visit! I hope you are well and that your preparations for going back to school are blessed with the Lord's awesome peace and grace.
Have a blessed new year!
Karen
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