Oswald Chambers book, My
Utmost for His Highest, was originally published by
his wife in 1927 after his death in 1917. It
is a compilation of excerpts from lectures and talks
he gave during his 43 years of service on this earth
and stands the test of time as a powerful and
insightful daily scripture devotional. When I
first ran across the statement above I thought,
"Wow! That's really deep". As I've learned
what it means to live in the reality of that thought
over the years I can look back and see that I had no
idea (nor do I yet have any) of just how deep
and true it is.
Everyone has a measure of faith. I don't know of
anyone who goes to the light switch saying, "I hope
this works but it probably won't, at least not for
me". No, we flick that switch having faith
that the light will turn on. At least most of
us do unless we haven't paid the power bill or
something. This type of faith rests in the
fact that if we do something, something else will
happen. We've seen it enough times to believe
in it.
|
|
What about faith in something or, more importantly,
someone who we can't see? What about faith
that says, "No matter what happens I am going to
trust in God". What sort of faith did Abraham
have to move a little farther on in when he was told
to take Isaac and sacrifice him? And what
about Moses? Don't you imagine that the Red
Sea, Mountains, and Egyptians made for a pretty
sizable spiritual crisis? Here comes the
entire Egyptian army and all he's got is a big
stick! When, at God's direction, Moses raised
his staff it must have seemed impossible that it
would accomplish anything, but he did it - in faith,
and we know the rest of the story.
The kind of faith that these men knew goes beyond
anything that most of us are ever going to be tested
in but it is the kind of faith that is essential if
we are to ever grow in our relationship with God -
"go to the next level", as my friend Terry puts it.
It's an unwavering belief that there is a God who is
in control of everything. A "big G" God who
not only holds the planets and stars in place in the
universe, but is also intently interested in the
smallest detail of each of our lives. Faith
that suffers through what seems to be the injustices
and hardships in life and comes out the other side
stronger and more steadfast than ever.
But
without faith it is impossible to please
Him, for he who comes to God must believe that
He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who
diligently seek Him.
Hebrews
11:6
|