Take courage

Jesus never promises His followers a pain and trouble-free life. In fact, He promises just the opposite. There will be troubles, and often those troubles are because we are followers of Him. As two examples, consider: “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted […]

Living a life of faith

“Taking up the shield of faith…” Paul says (Eph. 6:16). His words are an encouragement exhortation to trust the Lord in all things. We safely nod in agreement, but all too often our lives reveal a different source of trust. We trust ourselves, our reason, our strength, our intuition, our sight. And, should our hearts […]

Today’s Quote – Character (Chambers)

Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest: The test of a man’s religious life and character is not what he does in the exceptional moments of life, but what he does in the ordinary times, when there is nothing tremendous or exciting on.

Do I believe I need to be holy?

This morning, Oswald Chambers’ devotional echoed the themes from the sermons of the last two Sundays: Continually restate to yourself what the purpose of your life is. The destined end of man is not happiness, nor health, but holiness. Nowadays we have far too many affinities, we are dissipated with them; right, good, noble affinities […]

Today’s Quote (8/30/08)

Oswald Chambers, The Highest Good: The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.

Preparing for worship

A few days ago, Oswald Chambers wrote the following in My Utmost for His Highest. It is a fitting reminder and call as we prepare for worship on Sunday. Have I allowed the Spirit of God freedom to examine my heart so that my fellowship with Christ might be true and that the Lord would […]

Questions to sanctify your life

In this morning’s devotional, Oswald Chambers asks a number of helpful questions to stimulate sanctification in our lives: When we pray to be sanctified, are we prepared to face the standard of these verses? We take the term sanctification much too lightly. Are we prepared for what sanctification will cost? It will cost an intense […]

The Cost of Obedience

Oswald Chambers makes a surprising and perceptive (and true) statement about the cost of obedience in this morning’s devotional. If we obey God it is going to cost other people more than it costs us, and that is where the sting comes in. If we are in love with our Lord, obedience does not cost […]

Chambers on “Fellowship in the Gospel”

In this morning’s devotional from My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers addresses the topic of a purpose-driven life that is rooted in the desires of God. After sanctification it is difficult to state what your aim in life is, because God has taken you up into His purpose by the Holy Ghost; He is […]

Sunday Leftovers (10/29/06)

Those who are saved are saved eternally by the work of the eternal Godhead on their behalf. What does each member of the Godhead do for believers in Christ? [This list is nowhere near exhaustive, but it is a good starting point.] The work of the Father to secure you He has sovereign purposes and […]