by Oswald Chambers
“… choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve …” (Joshua
24:15).
A person’s will is embodied in the actions of the whole person. I cannot give
up my will—I must exercise it, putting it into action. I must will to obey, and I
must will to receive God’s Spirit. When God gives me a vision of truth, there is
never a question of what He will do, but only of what I will do. The Lord has
been placing in front of each of us some big proposals and plans. The best thing
to do is to remember what you did before when you were touched by God. Recall
the moment when you were saved, or first recognized Jesus, or realized some
truth. It was easy then to yield your allegiance to God. Immediately recall those
moments each time the Spirit of God brings some new proposal before you.
“… choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… .” Your choice must
be a deliberate determination—it is not something into which you will
automatically drift. And everything else in your life will be held in temporary
suspension until you make a decision. The proposal is between you and God—do
not “confer with flesh and blood” about it (Galatians 1:16). With every new
proposal, the people around us seem to become more and more isolated, and that
is where the tension develops. God allows the opinion of His other saints to
matter to you, and yet you become less and less certain that others really
understand the step you are taking. You have no business trying to find out where
God is leading—the only thing God will explain to you is Himself.
Openly declare to Him, “I will be faithful.” But remember that as soon as you
choose to be faithful to Jesus Christ, “You are witnesses against yourselves …”
(Joshua 24:22). Don’t consult with other Christians, but simply and freely declare
before Him, “I will serve You.” Will to be faithful—and give other people credit
for being faithful too.
By Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest
Comments