Daily Devotional & Other Inspirations

[Sower]

On 1/13/2023 at 11:35 AM, Vine Abider said:

Years ago when I went to
retreats, I would always feel close to God in the atmosphere of the
mountains and big trees. Then a few days later, after returning home,
I would wonder what happened to those feelings. I would try to
imagine how to recapture that mountain-top atmosphere in order to

be close to the Lord. But one day I discovered the address of Christ
in me. I saw from the Word that Christ is dwelling in my spirit; and
from that time forth, I began to experience Him in a way that I had
never known was possible.

   Thanks, VA...

The Place of Exaltation

By Oswald Chambers

…Jesus took…them up on a high mountain apart by themselves… —Mark 9:2

 

We have all experienced times of exaltation on the mountain, when we have seen things from God’s perspective and have wanted to stay there. But God will never allow us to stay there. The true test of our spiritual life is in exhibiting the power to descend from the mountain. If we only have the power to go up, something is wrong. It is a wonderful thing to be on the mountain with God, but a person only gets there so that he may later go down and lift up the demon-possessed people in the valley (see Mark 9:14-18). We are not made for the mountains, for sunrises, or for the other beautiful attractions in life— those are simply intended to be moments of inspiration. We are made for the valley and the ordinary things of life, and that is where we have to prove our stamina and strength. Yet our spiritual selfishness always wants repeated moments on the mountain. We feel that we could talk and live like perfect angels, if we could only stay on the mountaintop. Those times of exaltation are exceptional and they have their meaning in our life with God, but we must beware to prevent our spiritual selfishness from wanting to make them the only time.

We are inclined to think that everything that happens is to be turned into useful teaching. In actual fact, it is to be turned into something even better than teaching, namely, character. The mountaintop is not meant to teach us anything, it is meant to make us something. There is a terrible trap in always asking, “What’s the use of this experience?” We can never measure spiritual matters in that way. The moments on the mountaintop are rare moments, and they are meant for something in God’s purpose.

[Sower]

The Spiritual Saint

By Oswald Chambers

 

That I may know Him. — Philippians 3:10

 

 

"The initiative of the saint is not towards self-realisation, but towards knowing Jesus Christ. The spiritual saint never believes circumstances to be haphazard, or thinks of his life as secular and sacred; he sees everything he is dumped down in as the means of securing the knowledge of Jesus Christ. There is a reckless abandonment about him. The Holy Spirit is determined that we shall realize Jesus Christ in every domain of life, and He will bring us back to the same point again and again until we do. Self-realisation leads to the enthronement of work; whereas the saint enthrones Jesus Christ in his work. Whether it be eating or drinking or washing disciples’ feet, whatever it is, we have to take the initiative of realizing Jesus Christ in it. Every phase of our actual life has its counterpart in the life of Jesus. Our Lord realised His relationship to the Father even in the most menial work. “Jesus knowing…that He was come from God, and went to God;…took a towel,…and began to wash the disciples’ feet.”

The aim of the spiritual saint is “that I may know Him.” Do I know Him where I am to-day? If not, I am failing Him. I am here not to realise myself, but to know Jesus. In Christian work the initiative is too often the realisation that something has to be done and I must do it. That is never the attitude of the spiritual saint, his aim is to secure the realisation of Jesus Christ in every set of circumstances he is in"

 

            I do not work for Christ, but Christ works through me.
                    When I abide..

[Marilyn C]

4 hours ago, Sower said:

The Spiritual Saint

By Oswald Chambers

 

That I may know Him. — Philippians 3:10

 

 

"The initiative of the saint is not towards self-realisation, but towards knowing Jesus Christ. The spiritual saint never believes circumstances to be haphazard, or thinks of his life as secular and sacred; he sees everything he is dumped down in as the means of securing the knowledge of Jesus Christ. There is a reckless abandonment about him. The Holy Spirit is determined that we shall realize Jesus Christ in every domain of life, and He will bring us back to the same point again and again until we do. Self-realisation leads to the enthronement of work; whereas the saint enthrones Jesus Christ in his work. Whether it be eating or drinking or washing disciples’ feet, whatever it is, we have to take the initiative of realizing Jesus Christ in it. Every phase of our actual life has its counterpart in the life of Jesus. Our Lord realised His relationship to the Father even in the most menial work. “Jesus knowing…that He was come from God, and went to God;…took a towel,…and began to wash the disciples’ feet.”

The aim of the spiritual saint is “that I may know Him.” Do I know Him where I am to-day? If not, I am failing Him. I am here not to realise myself, but to know Jesus. In Christian work the initiative is too often the realisation that something has to be done and I must do it. That is never the attitude of the spiritual saint, his aim is to secure the realisation of Jesus Christ in every set of circumstances he is in"

 

            I do not work for Christ, but Christ works through me.
                    When I abide..

Hi Sower,

Great devotions from Oswald. I too read his work and am greatly blessed. He, by the Holy Spirit really gets to the heart of the matter. 

Marilyn.

[Vine Abider]

1 hour ago, Marilyn C said:

Hi Sower,

Great devotions from Oswald. I too read his work and am greatly blessed. He, by the Holy Spirit really gets to the heart of the matter. 

Marilyn.

I second that & thanks! OC is awesome.  He used to be in my daily reading, but admittedly some things of his went over my head (actually about half the time).  I have another brother who sends me things from My Utmost for His Highest from time to time, which I enjoy.

[Marilyn C]

1 hour ago, Vine Abider said:

I second that & thanks! OC is awesome.  He used to be in my daily reading, but admittedly some things of his went over my head (actually about half the time).  I have another brother who sends me things from My Utmost for His Highest from time to time, which I enjoy.

Yes, his writings are really quite deep. My other favorite author is Charles J. Rolls, who just focusses on the names and titles of the Lord Jesus Christ. Utterly amazing what he reveals of our Lord. He was an international Bible teacher from last century. I bought some of his books from the second hand bookstores.

 

[Sower]

13 minutes ago, Marilyn C said:

Yes, his writings are really quite deep. My other favorite author is Charles J. Rolls, who just focusses on the names and titles of the Lord Jesus Christ. Utterly amazing what he reveals of our Lord. He was an international Bible teacher from last century. I bought some of his books from the second hand bookstores.

 

I also buy the vast majority of books from flea markets, E-bay pre owned, family thrift, Abe's used books etc. That started when we began home schooling our kids in the mid eighties and had to buy all their school books/curriculum books.

What books by Charles J. Rolls do you particularly suggest/like.
Have found 'Indescribable Christ : A-G Paperback Charles J. Rolls' and 'World's Greatest Name: H, I, J, K by Rolls, Charles J'.  Are there others you would recommend?

Thanks Marilyn.

 

 

[Vine Abider]

41 minutes ago, Marilyn C said:

Yes, his writings are really quite deep. My other favorite author is Charles J. Rolls, who just focusses on the names and titles of the Lord Jesus Christ. Utterly amazing what he reveals of our Lord. He was an international Bible teacher from last century. I bought some of his books from the second hand bookstores.

 

I've seen you mention Rolls a couple times.

[Marilyn C]

4 hours ago, Sower said:

I also buy the vast majority of books from flea markets, E-bay pre owned, family thrift, Abe's used books etc. That started when we began home schooling our kids in the mid eighties and had to buy all their school books/curriculum books.

What books by Charles J. Rolls do you particularly suggest/like.
Have found 'Indescribable Christ : A-G Paperback Charles J. Rolls' and 'World's Greatest Name: H, I, J, K by Rolls, Charles J'.  Are there others you would recommend?

Thanks Marilyn.

 

 

Hi Sower,

Oh that is so great you have found some of the titles. I have the 5 books in that series.

1. The Indescribable Christ, (A - G)

2. The World`s Greatest Name. (H - K) 

3. Time`s Noblest Name. (L - O)

4. The Name Above every name. (P - S)

5. His Glorious Name. (T - Z)

They are all wonderful and just to read a paragraph can make you meditate for a while. Truly, inspirational by the Holy Spirit. I hold these books as next to God`s word. Such breadth and depth of teaching. 

Tell me how you like them if you can buy some or all.

Marilyn.

[Marilyn C]

4 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

I've seen you mention Rolls a couple times.

You do have a good memory for people and detail. You must have the shepherd`s heart. And actually I am seeing that as you move around and `collect` people. Just what is needed here on Worthy. Too many of us, (me included) tend to `battle` out our views and not many have the true Shepherd`s heart for gathering others.

May God continue to work His heart through you on Worthy.

 

[Vine Abider]

10 hours ago, Marilyn C said:

You do have a good memory for people and detail. You must have the shepherd`s heart. And actually I am seeing that as you move around and `collect` people. Just what is needed here on Worthy. Too many of us, (me included) tend to `battle` out our views and not many have the true Shepherd`s heart for gathering others.

May God continue to work His heart through you on Worthy.

 

Thanks for those kind words - I love the saints on this forum!  We are fully one in Him!