oswald chambers

Sixteen years ago, a friend and mentor of mine gave me the daily devotional book My Utmost for His Highest written by Oswald Chambers for my birthday. It's a classic that I would recommend to all. Ours sits faithfully next to our kleenex box on the back of our toilet. Yesterday's reading was a goodie, as is most every entry.

The Spiritual Society

"Rehabilitation means the putting back of the whole human race into the relationship God designed it to be in, and this is what Jesus Christ did in Redemption. The Church ceases to be a spiritual society when it is on the look-out of its own organization. The rehabilitation of the human race on Jesus Christ's plan means the realization of Jesus Christ in corporate life as well as in individual life. Jesus Christ sent apostles and teachers for this purpose- that the corporate Personality might be realized. We are not here to develop a spiritual life of our own, or to enjoy spiritual retirement; we are here so to realize Jesus Christ that the Body of Christ may be built up.

Am I building up the Body of Christ, or am I looking for my own personal development only? The essential thing is my personal relationship to Jesus Christ- "That I may know Him." To fulfill God's design means entire abandonment to Him. Whenever I want things for myself, the relationship is distorted. It will be a big humiliation to realize that I have not been concerned about realizing Jesus Christ, but only about realizing what He has done for me.

'My goal is God Himself, not joy nor peace, nor even blessing, but Himself, my God.'

Am I measuring my life by this standard or by anything less?"