The love of Christ compels us… —2 Corinthians 5:14

Paul said that he was overpowered, subdued, and held as in a vise by “the love of Christ.” Very few of us really know what it means to be held in the grip of the love of God. We tend so often to be controlled simply by our own experience. The one thing that gripped and held Paul, to the exclusion of everything else, was the love of God. “The love of Christ compels us….” When you hear that coming from the life of a man or woman it is unmistakable. You will know that the Spirit of God is completely unhindered in that person’s life.

When we are born again by the Spirit of God, our testimony is based solely on what God has done for us, and rightly so. But that will change and be removed forever once you “receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…” (Acts 1:8). Only then will you begin to realize what Jesus meant when He went on to say, “…you shall be witnesses to Me….” Not witnesses to what Jesus can do— that is basic and understood— but “witnesses to Me….” We will accept everything that happens as if it were happening to Him, whether we receive praise or blame, persecution or reward. No one is able to take this stand for Jesus Christ who is not totally compelled by the majesty of His power. It is the only thing that matters, and yet it is strange that it’s the last thing we as Christian workers realize. Paul said that he was gripped by the love of God and that is why he acted as he did. People could perceive him as mad or sane— he did not care. There was only one thing he lived for— to persuade people of the coming judgment of God and to tell them of “the love of Christ.” This total surrender to “the love of Christ” is the only thing that will bear fruit in your life. And it will always leave the mark of God’s holiness and His power, never drawing attention to your personal holiness.

_____________________________________________________________

Journal DJR
Good Morning Lord,
This devotional today causes me to feel more inadequate than most. The feeling of “overpowered, subdued, and held as in a vise by “the love of Christ.” is unfamiliar or very rare to me. Chambers goes on to at least let me feel like I’m not alone…
“Very few of us really know what it means to be held in the grip of the love of God.” (and gives a possible reason)… “We tend so often to be controlled simply by our own experience.” This seems like a fair evaluation…after all, it’s the Apostle Paul that he’s quoting. So, what’s to be done? I’m convinced that just trying harder isn’t the answer. Based on many years of trying that approach.

You are correct, you cannot grunt and try harder to get “compelled by the love of Christ.” That will only make you a better Pharisee. Rather, focus on the quality and quantity of time you spend with me. Communing with me. All day, Every day. Savor it. And you will arrive at that place Paul describes …. not because you were striving to get there… but as a side effect of our growing relationship. Let go of it as a goal and only strive to be with me, and I will bring you here, which will be beyond whatever you currently imagine.

 We have been made as the filth of the world… —1 Corinthians 4:13

Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! —1 Corinthians 9:16


Beware of refusing to hear the call of God. Everyone who is saved is called to testify to the fact of his salvation. That, however, is not the same as the call to preach, but is merely an illustration which can be used in preaching. In this verse, Paul was referring to the stinging pains produced in him by the compelling force of the call to preach the gospel. Never try to apply what Paul said regarding the call to preach to those souls who are being called to God for salvation. There is nothing easier than getting saved, because it is solely God’s sovereign work— “Look to Me, and be saved…” (Isaiah 45:22). Our Lord never requires the same conditions for discipleship that he requires for salvation. We are condemned to salvation through the Cross of Christ. But discipleship has an option with it— “If anyone…” (Luke 14:26).

Paul’s words have to do with our being made servants of Jesus Christ, and our permission is never asked as to what we will do or where we will go. God makes us as broken bread and poured-out wine to please Himself. To be “separated to the gospel” means being able to hear the call of God (Romans 1:1). Once someone begins to hear that call, a suffering worthy of the name of Christ is produced. Suddenly, every ambition, every desire of life, and every outlook is completely blotted out and extinguished. Only one thing remains— “…separated to the gospel…” Woe be to the soul who tries to head in any other direction once that call has come to him. The Bible Training College exists so that each of you may know whether or not God has a man or woman here who truly cares about proclaiming His gospel and to see if God grips you for this purpose. Beware of competing calls once the call of God grips you.

________________________________________________________________

Journal DJR
Good Morning Lord,
Oswald Chambers here differentiates between the call to preach and the call to all Christians to just live for you. If that call to all is to live a surrendered life, emptied of the big 4, the drive to look good, feel good, be right and be in control….. and stay connected and curious and excited to hear and see what you have for us next…. It seems like that could include preaching or peeling potatoes and it doesn’t matter. (Like Brother Lawrence, who peeled potatoes for 55 years and became a hero of the faith as recorded in the best seller, Practicing the Presence of God) Is there a special call to preach or is the main call just to be a disciple and follow you and if that includes preaching sometimes then fine, but sometimes just living it out with whatever you put in our path. Like St Francis of Assisi said, Preach the gospel at all times and if absolutely necessary, use words….

I reduced the old hard, impossible to keep, old covenant to two commandments and if you take the first one to it’s logical end…. you don’t even need the second one. Because through obeying the first command to love Me, you will hear my voice and feel my heart which loves people and you will find yourself loving your neighbor and pouring your life out for your neighbor, because you are allowing my heart to flow thru you and that’s what I did and what I continue to do. Love people.

So what about preaching? And the special call?

Preaching is a good thing. Somebody’s gotta do it. But consider that the average preaching is 30 minutes a week. There are many other 30 minute periods during the same week and I can, and do, speak to my children in all those times, just like I was with Brother Lawrence peeling potatoes. I spoke to him and I’ll speak to you. Customized. Whereas the Sunday sermon goes out to all, I speak to you alone in your woodshop or your car or the shower. So develop the ability to be with me, commune with me, hear me and see what I’m seeing. Then whatever you do will be the preaching for the moment. Maybe to a crowd. Maybe to someone watching you teach a student in your shop.

Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel… —1 Corinthians 1:17

Do not worry about your life… —Matthew 6:25

If God so clothes the grass of the field…, will He not much more clothe you…? —Matthew 6:30

A simple statement of Jesus is always a puzzle to us because we will not be simple. How can we maintain the simplicity of Jesus so that we may understand Him? By receiving His Spirit, recognizing and relying on Him, and obeying Him as He brings us the truth of His Word, life will become amazingly simple. Jesus asks us to consider that “if God so clothes the grass of the field…” how “much more” will He clothe you, if you keep your relationship right with Him? Every time we lose ground in our fellowship with God, it is because we have disrespectfully thought that we knew better than Jesus Christ. We have allowed “the cares of this world” to enter in (Matthew 13:22), while forgetting the “much more” of our heavenly Father.

When it pleased God… —Galatians 1:15

Thus says the Lord: “I remember…the kindness of your youth…” —Jeremiah 2:2

Am I as spontaneously kind to God as I used to be, or am I only expecting God to be kind to me? Does everything in my life fill His heart with gladness, or do I constantly complain because things don’t seem to be going my way? A person who has forgotten what God treasures will not be filled with joy. It is wonderful to remember that Jesus Christ has needs which we can meet— “Give Me a drink” (John 4:7). How much kindness have I shown Him in the past week? Has my life been a good reflection on His reputation?

God is saying to His people, “You are not in love with Me now, but I remember a time when you were.” He says, “I remember…the love of your betrothal…” (Jeremiah 2:2). Am I as filled to overflowing with love for Jesus Christ as I was in the beginning, when I went out of my way to prove my devotion to Him? Does He ever find me pondering the time when I cared only for Him? Is that where I am now, or have I chosen man’s wisdom over true love for Him? Am I so in love with Him that I take no thought for where He might lead me? Or am I watching to see how much respect I get as I measure how much service I should give Him?

As I recall what God remembers about me, I may also begin to realize that He is not what He used to be to me. When this happens, I should allow the shame and humiliation it creates in my life, because it will bring godly sorrow, and “godly sorrow produces repentance…” (2 Corinthians 7:10).

____________________________________________________________

Journal DJR
Good morning Lord,
When Chambers spoke of shame and humiliation in the last paragraph, my first reaction was to recoil away from that as perhaps a manipulative tool used by religion and the enemy of our souls, Satan. But he equated it to “godly sorrow” that leads to repentance, so it appears to be useful in a Christian life …. if used correctly. So how do we handle shame and humiliation? Such that we don’t wallow in it for years? That certainly can’t be your best plan for us?

As a time of separation or disobedience is coming to an end, you may feel shame or humiliation, like the prodigal son did. The question is how long you want to stay in that place. It’s up to you. You can stay in that pain for a long time or you can come out the other end very quickly. The entrance to that place was sin, having your own way, and the exit from that place is repentance and coming home to me and doing life my way. Consider shame and humiliation to be an indicator that something is amiss. Like gauges on the dashboard of your car. Like you do with your peace meter. When you recognize shame and humiliation, you know that is not how I want you to live and that, just like the Father waited with open arms for the Prodigal Son to return, I wait for you to return, with plans for a party. So don’t wait in shame. Repent for whatever the Holy Spirit shows you and run back to me. I have paid for all of your sins, and remember them no more. I want you to live in joy and excitement and peace. Don’t let shame and humiliation keep you from me. Just repent (surrender) and come to me so that we can get on with the party and the adventure.

Luke 15:17-23
17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’

20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.[a]’

22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

When the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him. —Genesis 15:12

Whenever God gives a vision to a Christian, it is as if He puts him in “the shadow of His hand” (Isaiah 49:2). The saint’s duty is to be still and listen. There is a “darkness” that comes from too much light— that is the time to listen. The story of Abram and Hagar in Genesis 16 is an excellent example of listening to so-called good advice during a time of darkness, rather than waiting for God to send the light. When God gives you a vision and darkness follows, wait. God will bring the vision He has given you to reality in your life if you will wait on His timing. Never try to help God fulfill His word. Abram went through thirteen years of silence, but in those years all of his self-sufficiency was destroyed. He grew past the point of relying on his own common sense. Those years of silence were a time of discipline, not a period of God’s displeasure. There is never any need to pretend that your life is filled with joy and confidence; just wait upon God and be grounded in Him (see Isaiah 50:10-11).

Do I trust at all in the flesh? Or have I learned to go beyond all confidence in myself and other people of God? Do I trust in books and prayers or other joys in my life? Or have I placed my confidence in God Himself, not in His blessings? “I am Almighty God…”— El-Shaddai, the All-Powerful God (Genesis 17:1). The reason we are all being disciplined is that we will know God is real. As soon as God becomes real to us, people pale by comparison, becoming shadows of reality. Nothing that other saints do or say can ever upset the one who is built on God.