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Daily Reflections with Oswald Chambers [January 30, 2006]
My Utmost for His Highest (The Golden Book of Oswald Chambers; 1992) ^ | 1935/1992 | Oswald Chambers

Posted on 01/29/2006 11:26:47 PM PST by Alamo-Girl

The Dilemma of Obedience

" Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision "

—1 Samuel 3:15

God never speaks to us in dramatic ways, but in ways that are easy to misunderstand. Then we say, "I wonder if that is God’s voice?" Isaiah said that the Lord spoke to him "with a strong hand," that is, by the pressure of his circumstances ( Isaiah 8:11 ). Without the sovereign hand of God Himself, nothing touches our lives. Do we discern His hand at work, or do we see things as mere occurrences?

Get into the habit of saying, "Speak, Lord," and life will become a romance ( 1 Samuel 3:9 ). Every time circumstances press in on you, say, "Speak, Lord," and make time to listen. Chastening is more than a means of discipline— it is meant to bring me to the point of saying, "Speak, Lord." Think back to a time when God spoke to you. Do you remember what He said? Was it Luke 11:13 , or was it 1 Thessalonians 5:23 ? As we listen, our ears become more sensitive, and like Jesus, we will hear God all the time.

Should I tell my "Eli" what God has shown to me? This is where the dilemma of obedience hits us. We disobey God by becoming amateur providences and thinking, "I must shield ’Eli,’ " who represents the best people we know. God did not tell Samuel to tell Eli— he had to decide that for himself. God’s message to you may hurt your "Eli," but trying to prevent suffering in another’s life will prove to be an obstruction between your soul and God. It is at your own risk that you prevent someone’s right hand being cut off or right eye being plucked out (see Matthew 5:29-30 ).

Never ask another person’s advice about anything God makes you decide before Him. If you ask advice, you will almost always side with Satan. ". . . I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood . . ." ( Galatians 1:16 ).

In 1910 Chambers married Gertrude Hobbs. They had one daughter, Kathleen, who still resides in London (as of 1992).

In 1911 he founded and became principal of the Bible Training College in Clapham, London, where he lectured until the school was closed in 1915 because of World War I. In October 1915 he sailed for Zeitoun, Egypt (near Cairo), where he ministered to Australian and New Zealand troops as a YMCA chaplain. He died there November 15, 1917, following surgery for a ruptured appendix.

My Utmost for His Highest, his best-known book, has been continuously in print in the United States since 1935 and in this, the last decade of the century, remains in the top ten titles of the religious book bestseller list with millions of copies in print. It has become a Christian classic. [from the flyleaf of the book]


TOPICS: Ecumenism; General Discusssion; Theology; Worship
KEYWORDS: prayer; reflection; selfexamination
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To: gobucks

Amen! Thank you, gobucks!


21 posted on 01/30/2006 9:49:13 PM PST by Alamo-Girl
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To: .30Carbine
Thank you so much for the beautiful passage and for sharing your seeking and insights! I see that hosepipe has given you good explanations of reflection and refraction.

I suggest you prepare an essay/article from your meditations on the foundation stones and post it as an article of its own on the Religion forum. Others who do not frequent the devotion threads may have an interest in the subject.

22 posted on 01/30/2006 9:57:47 PM PST by Alamo-Girl
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To: AlbionGirl
Thank you so much for sharing your testimony and insights!

This would appear to be easy, but I don't think it is. One of the things I find hardest to do is to remain silent in prayer.

So very true, AlbionGirl, the mind always seems to drift to the distractions and thorns of life.
23 posted on 01/30/2006 10:04:05 PM PST by Alamo-Girl
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To: Ciexyz

Thank you so much for bumping by!


24 posted on 01/30/2006 10:12:02 PM PST by Alamo-Girl
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To: hosepipe; .30Carbine; Countyline
Thank you so much for this engaging sidebar on the new heaven and earth!

My expectation is much like y'alls. It is beyond what our mortal eyes, ears and minds can fathom. All of our knowledge, skills and gifts of the Spirit will be useless except for love. The revelations of it must therefore be understood as glimpses which cannot be fully conveyed to our earth bound spirits by either language or metaphor.

The stones in Revelation are engraved. The gates of the new Jerusalem are pearls engraved with the names of the angels of the tribes of the children of Israel. And the stones of the walls are precious stones, gems, engraved with the names of the apostles of the Lamb.

Likewise, the white stone given to those who overcome is engraved with a new name known by no man other than the one who receives it.

My meditation this evening will be on the combination of stone and name and the types of stone.

25 posted on 01/30/2006 10:46:41 PM PST by Alamo-Girl
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To: Alamo-Girl
[ The gates of the new Jerusalem are pearls ]

Pearls are said to be the tears of a living creature..
And they are.. What a metaphor is that..

26 posted on 01/31/2006 7:19:07 AM PST by hosepipe (CAUTION: This propaganda is laced with hyperbole..)
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To: hosepipe

Indeed, hosepipe. What a metaphor that is.


27 posted on 01/31/2006 7:47:48 AM PST by Alamo-Girl
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To: Alamo-Girl

Here's wishing blessings to all FReepers reading this thread!


28 posted on 01/31/2006 4:41:27 PM PST by Ciexyz (Let us always remember, the Lord is in control.)
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