Daily Reflections with Oswald Chambers [January 23, 2007]

My Utmost for His Highest (The Golden Book of Oswald Chambers; 1992) ^ | 1935/1992 | Oswald Chambers

[.30Carbine]

Transformed by Beholding

" We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord,
are being transformed into the same image. . . "

—2 Corinthians 3:18

The greatest characteristic a Christian can exhibit is this completely unveiled openness before God, which allows that person’s life to become a mirror for others. When the Spirit fills us, we are transformed, and by beholding God we become mirrors. You can always tell when someone has been beholding the glory of the Lord, because your inner spirit senses that he mirrors the Lord’s own character. Beware of anything that would spot or tarnish that mirror in you. It is almost always something good that will stain it— something good, but not what is best.

The most important rule for us is to concentrate on keeping our lives open to God. Let everything else including work, clothes, and food be set aside. The busyness of things obscures our concentration on God. We must maintain a position of beholding Him, keeping our lives completely spiritual through and through. Let other things come and go as they will; let other people criticize us as they will; but never allow anything to obscure the life that "is hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3). Never let a hurried lifestyle disturb the relationship of abiding in Him. This is an easy thing to allow, but we must guard against it. The most difficult lesson of the Christian life is learning how to continue "beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord . . . ."

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]

[.30Carbine]

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I can attest from personal experience that reading from Chambers daily will almost certainly change - not one's faith - but one's perspective of his/her own faith, and open up new vistas in your spiritual life. If - when - this happens to a reader of these threads, and they choose to share what has happened within them - we are treading on hallowed ground. Be respectful.

- Religion Moderator

[.30Carbine]

Devotion ping!

[GracieRose]

Thanks for sharing, Carbine, a beautiful devotion to meditate upon throughout the day. May we all behold the Glory of God within ourselves.

[ThirstyMan]

OC: always challenging, always spot on!

[ThirstyMan]

This "unveiled openness" is a practised trait. If God is working in us and we're practising this "unveiled openness" then others will be able to see God's part in our lives....if He is there. If God is our controlling force that'll be visible. If he's our part time "go to" guy then they'll see that as well.

This is where Jesus' expression of a child-like faith comes into play because we aren't supposed to orchestrate God's visibility in our lives. We practise unveiled openness so that others can take a peek and see Him and decide if that's what they would want. A God life is VERY attractive in its own way without us trying to promote, peddle and sell God.

[Vision]

You can always tell when someone has been beholding the glory of the Lord, because your inner spirit senses that he mirrors the Lord’s own character...Never let a hurried lifestyle disturb the relationship of abiding in Him.

How true that is.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22

[Kate of Spice Island]

What a wonderful reminder as to what life is all about!

[Alamo-Girl]

The most important rule for us is to concentrate on keeping our lives open to God. Let everything else including work, clothes, and food be set aside.

Yep, all those other things are "weeds" (parable of the sower). Thank you for this beautiful devotion!

[gulfcoast6]

Need your help and the rest as well.

My Daughter and Son-in-Law have started taking in foster children and we have one 2 year old boy at this time. Tomorrow at 3:30 PM they meet with the legal lady from foster care with the hopes we will get Jason's 8 month sister, she is with another family now but he folks that have her do not want to give her up. She already has 4 foster children but when you love a child love knows no numbers. Foster care want families to stay together and in no way do we want to (I am just as part of it as the kids are, I am just l ole 71 year old 'BawBaw' as Jason calls me and I live with the kids since my wife died) and we feel she should be with her brother. Yes, we will adopt them as they are adoptable.

So much for the long talk. I want to request prayers from each of you and from your members in your Church. We know that the will of God will be the answer, whatever it is but please, help and the foster children out. I trust I am not being selfish as I do not intend to leave this as being selfish.
Thanks.
Toby Wood
Mississippi Gulf Coast
Your brother in Christ.

[.30Carbine]

...a beautiful devotion to meditate upon throughout the day...

I so agree! Chambers captures blazing glory and hands that truth to us like coals glowing from the alter of God's Word. It is amazing to see in every reading how many of those coals are already - and are still - alive and alight within us by God's Own Hand.

[.30Carbine]

OC: always challenging, always spot on!

Thank you so much for saying so. I could not agree more than I do!

[.30Carbine]

This "unveiled openness" is a practised trait. If God is working in us and we're practising this "unveiled openness" then others will be able to see God's part in our lives....if He is there. If God is our controlling force that'll be visible. If he's our part time "go to" guy then they'll see that as well.

OHs and AHs at this side of the keyboard over how very well that comment is written, ThirstyMan. I am so glad you wrote that, and so thankful that you shared it with us here. You've written great truth in the whole of it.

This is where Jesus' expression of a child-like faith comes into play because we aren't supposed to orchestrate God's visibility in our lives. We practise unveiled openness so that others can take a peek and see Him and decide if that's what they would want. A God life is VERY attractive in its own way without us trying to promote, peddle and sell God.

Mary, you testified to someone witnessing to this very same word being true of thee - how surprised you were and how you gave praise to God for His accomplished work in you. Your friend saw your "unveiled face" when she spoke so glowingly of your transformation! Your eyes were so focused on Jesus you didn't even think to examine yourself for growth, but she had seen it!

[.30Carbine]

Good words, Vision; thank you so much for posting the Scripture here with your thoughts on the Reflection.

[.30Carbine]

What a wonderful reminder as to what life is all about!

AAAAAmen!

The most important rule for us is to concentrate on keeping our lives open to God.

And I can't help but chuckle at this next line, because I often do...

Let everything else including work, clothes, and food be set aside.

...dishes, vacuuming, making the bed... (:

[.30Carbine]

I'm so glad you mention the Parable of the Sower - yes, that's perfect for this devotion, that image of the weeds and thorns choking out the good growth of God's planting. Thank you, Alamo-Girl!

[Vision]

You're back early today. Good for you.

[.30Carbine]

Dear Toby, how honored I am at your request. I will indeed pray!

Your request is not selfish, it is love, and I am so glad you shared it here.

[.30Carbine]

It doesn't feel early! (;

[.30Carbine]

Oh thank You for Toby Wood's request, Father, to pray! Thank you for foster families, and for his family in particular, and that he gets to be a part of the lives of these precious children, and they get him as "BawBaw"! Oh bless them abundantly in this great work of Yours, of adoption! Bring this sister home to BawBaw and her brother. Lord, so superintend and orchestrate over the day tomorrow, over every single circumstance and person and legality, over the hearts and minds of every human being involved, that it is evident and obvious to everyone that Your blessing is upon the outcome! Make it so that Toby's daughter's heart's cry is triumphant in Thee, as Thou hast heard her prayers! She's given her heart to Jason and she desires to spread wide the tent to make room for his little sister, too! Lord, Thou didst give the desire; grant now the answer in abundant blessing and joy, that Jason and his sister come to live under this blessed roof with this family that knows and loves and seeks to honor Thee in all things, in all their ways. They want to keep Your Word of Deuteronomy 6: help them Lord, and encourage them! Thank you for Toby's love for his daughter and for the home they have together in these years without his wife. Thank You that You have sent into Toby's life even more persons to share his love with. Make use of his wisdom and experience and his delight in these children, to grow them up into men and women who fear the Lord and keep Your Way. Your Way is Christ Jesus! In His Name, His Peace and Hope and by faith in His Sacrifice, we pray, and are grateful, amen.

[gulfcoast6]

Thank you so much, we will be so blessed with this child if God grants us with this privilege in raising her in the name of the Lord.

I spent my career in law enforcement and have seen so much in my life time wth abused children, murdered children, kids thrown on the thrash dumps in our world. I just pray for help.