Oswald Chambers – My Utmost for His Highest – Sunday, 2 February
2014 “The Constraint Of The Call”
Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!--1 Corinthians 9:16
Beware of stopping your ears to the call of God. Everyone who is
saved is called to testify to the fact; but that is not the call to preach, it
is merely an illustration in preaching. Paul is referring to the pangs produced
in him by the constraint to preach the Gospel. Never apply what Paul says in
this connection to souls coming in contact with God for salvation. There is
nothing easier than getting saved because it is God’s sovereign work – Come
unto Me and I will save you. Our Lord never lays down the conditions of
discipleship as the conditions of salvation. We are condemned to salvation
through the Cross of Jesus Christ. Discipleship has an option with it – “IF any
man. . . “
Paul’s words have to do with being made a servant of Jesus
Christ, and our permission is never asked as to what we will do or where we
will go. God makes us broken bread and poured-out wine to please Himself. To be
"separated unto the gospel" means to hear the call of God; and when a
man begins to overhear that call, then begins agony that is worthy of the name.
Every ambition is nipped in the bud, every desire of life quenched, every
outlook completely extinguished and blotted out, saving one thing only –
"separated unto the gospel." Woe be to the soul who tries to put his
foot in any other direction when once that call has come to him. This College
exists for you, and you – to see whether God has a man or woman here who cares
about proclaiming His Gospel; to see whether God grips you. And beware of
competitors when God does grip you.
-------
No comments:
Post a Comment