The Baffling Call of God
August 6, 2008 | Knowing Christ,Ministry Life
Excerpted from My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers
The Baffling Call Of God
“And all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man shall be accomplished … And they understood none of these things.” Luke 18:31, 34
God called Jesus Christ to what seemed unmitigated disaster. Jesus Christ called His disciples to see Him put to death; He led every one of them to the place where their hearts were broken. Jesus Christ’s life was an absolute failure from every standpoint but God’s. But what seemed failure from man’s standpoint was a tremendous triumph from God’s, because God’s purpose is never man’s purpose.
There comes the baffling call of God in our lives also. The call of God can never be stated explicitly; it is implicit. The call of God is like the call of the sea, no one hears it but the one who has the nature of the sea in him. It cannot be stated definitely what the call of God is to, because His call is to be in comradeship with Himself for His own purposes, and the test is to believe that God knows what He is after.
From Suzie: Isn’t it funny how we strive after purpose, instead of God? I’m not really talking to you; I’m looking straight at my own image in the mirror. If I look at my to-do list today it is full. Every one of them is wrapped around “ministry”. And yet purpose is not what I do, but who I walk with today who is a friend, is God, is peace, is life, is joy. I love ministry. I love writing. I am passionate about these things.
But the simplicity of faith is that my “calling” is to simply walk with God through the good, the bad, the sticky, the challenging, the amazing, the ordinary days and moments of my day.
If you want to read the rest of this Oswald Chambers devo, click here.
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Mmm hmm. He’s been reminding me of this again and again. It’s not about the do, it’s about the be, about the relationship. The icky part is that He reminds me through my relationship with my husband. Well, I guess that’s not icky, but it’s painful to be reminded in my closest human relationship that I’m still striving and not just loving. Does that make sense? It’s about being one, not about going through the motions of life.
August 6th, 2008 at 11:08 amIt does make sense, Flea. I’m often reminded through my own relationships as well. Sometimes I try to hard, or interfere when conflict needs to resolved rather than “shut down”. I’m such a work in progress, but we all are, aren’t we? : ) I appreciate you and your thoughts.
August 6th, 2008 at 11:35 am