Oct
22
2008
22
2008
Holy on the Ordinary Streets
Filed under: Following Jesus
Oswald Chambers…gotta love him. I’ve been reading “My Utmost for His Highest” as a devotional for as long as I can remember and it never ceases to speak a timely word to my spirit. Today was no exception. Read on:
There was nothing of the nature of impulsive or thoughtless action about our Lord, but only a calm strength that never got into a panic. Most of us develop our Christianity along the lines of our own nature, not along the lines of God’s nature. Impulsiveness is a trait of the natural life, and our Lord always ignores it, because it hinders the development of the life of a disciple. Watch how the Spirit of God gives a sense of restraint to impulsiveness, suddenly bringing us a feeling of self-conscious foolishness, which makes us instantly want to vindicate ourselves. Impulsiveness is all right in a child, but is disastrous in a man or woman—an impulsive adult is always a spoiled person. Impulsiveness needs to be trained into intuition through discipline.
Discipleship is built entirely on the supernatural grace of God. Walking on water is easy to someone with impulsive boldness, but walking on dry land as a disciple of Jesus Christ is something altogether different. Peter walked on the water to go to Jesus, but he “followed Him at a distance” on dry land ( Mark 14:54 ). We do not need the grace of God to withstand crises—human nature and pride are sufficient for us to face the stress and strain magnificently. But it does require the supernatural grace of God to live twenty-four hours of every day as a saint, going through drudgery, and living an ordinary, unnoticed, and ignored existence as a disciple of Jesus. It is ingrained in us that we have to do exceptional things for God—but we do not. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things of life, and holy on the ordinary streets, among ordinary people—and this is not learned in five minutes.
You can read online…and even subscribe to the feed. Oct. 22 is fantastic as well.
Posted by Sara @ 1:03 am | Leave a Comment
22
2008
Talk about conviction!! This is something I will be meditating on all day.
‘and this is not learned in five minutes’. I think that is my biggest problem. I want to get it my head, okay I know it, lets go and 10 minutes later I have forgotten it. This must be a continuous thing. Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed…but be transformed by the renewing of your mind”. When I was taking Greek in college, I learned that the tense for the word transformed in that instances is a continual transformation; its something that has to be on going. The transformation doesn’t stop when we believe. Constantly transformed. Thanks for sharing this, Sara.
22
2008
wow, if thats not what we live everyday. People can tell us they are proud of the “big” stuff we do, but I am painfully aware that it is how I live my everyday around my husband and kids that makes the real difference. My God is gracious and gives me a new day to try again and thankfully, so do my husband and kids.
22
2008
Isn’t this the truth!??! Chambers just gets it, doesn’t he! My favorite line is:
“We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things of life”
That always seems to be the toughest part – who wants to be simply ordinary?
Thanks for the post.
22
2008
Awesome…hadn’t picked up O.C. lately…will definitely go read my devo this afternoon on the front porch with some hot tea
22
2008
I have been reading Oswald Chambers’ “My Utmost for His Highest” every year for the past 2 or 3 years I would say. I feel like he has this amazing understanding of God that I long to possess. So, I keep reading year after year to try to do so myself. Thank you for this post. Your blog is a blessing.
22
2008
That is something I struggle with daily. Wanting so much to do and be something extraordinary when I just need,
“the supernatural grace of God to live twenty-four hours of every day as a saint, going through drudgery, and living an ordinary, unnoticed, and ignored existence as a disciple of Jesus. It is ingrained in us that we have to do exceptional things for God—but we do not.”.
What a relief to know that it’s ok to just be “little ol’ me”. God loves me just as I am. Thanks for the reminder!
22
2008
wonderful…this is one of those truths that you can meditate on for days…thanks for sharing
23
2008
Wonderful post. Something to really meditate upon. Thanks for sharing this :0)
Blessings and Peace ~
23
2008
This is fantastic and speaks to my heart in so many ways. In a culture that is all about achieving and “being somebody”–a message that has somehow overtaken my own thoughts–this is a great reminder of how the ordinary, everyday is much more important than we give it credit.
I read Utmost as a 19 year old college student, but I think that I need to revisit it. I’m sure I’d be able to absorb so much more now. Thanks for sharing the link!
23
2008
I too have been reading Mr. Chambers’ devotionals. Good stuff!
27
2008
Good thoughts… I’ve long been a fan of Chambers.
14
2008
Thanks so much for posting that O.C. blurb. I haven’t read your blog for ages and I’m so glad I checked it out, if not just to read this post, it hit me.
-Kari