Sunday, November 8, 2009

God's Call On Our Lives


We make calls out of our own spiritual consecration, but when we get right with God He brushes all these aside, and rivets us with the pain that is terrific to one thing we never dreamed of, and for one radiant flashing moment we see what He is after, and we say - "Here am I, send me."

This call has nothing to do with personal sanctification, but with being made broken bread and poured out wine. God can never make us wine if we object to the fingers He uses to crush us with. If God would only use His own fingers, and make me broken bread and poured-out wine in a special way! But when He uses someone whom we dislike, or some set of circumstances to which we said we would never submit, and makes THOSE the crushers, we object. We must never choose the scene of our own martyrdom. If ever we are going to be made into wine, we will have to be crushed; you cannot drink grapes. Grapes become wine only when they have been squeezed.

I wonder what kind of finger and thumb God has been using to squeeze you, and you have been like a marble and escaped? You are not ripe yet, and if God had squeezed you, the wine would have been remarkably bitter. To be a sacramental personality means that the elements of the natural life are presenced by God as they are broken providentially in His service. We have to be adjusted into God before we can be broken bread in His hands. Keep right with God and let Him do what He likes, and you will find that He is producing the kind of bread and wine that will benefit His other children.

Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest.
Blessings to you,

13 comments:

rcubes said...

I like O.C.'s writings. Very thought-provoking. I've been crushed many times, but somehow, still manages to flee from His fingers sometimes. I am very unripe and may I be that sweet-tasting wine in His perfect time.
Hope all is well with you sister and God bless you and protect you always...

Debbie said...

Kymber this was so good and so blessed me. And how true it is as well. I am afraid particularily of me. I have frequently complained when I have liked the circumstances or people He uses to mold me into what He wants me to be. Thanks for sharing this. Have a wonderful day of worship. Blessings, Debbie

Andrea said...

AMEN!
Great post!

Elizabeth Mahlou said...

Interesting thoughts! I have felt that hand and those fingers, for sure!

Lois Christensen said...

Beautiful.

Denise said...

Wonderful.

Charlotte said...

What interesting thoughts, Kymber. We definitely need to be open to being used by God in whatever way and by whatever way he wants to use us. Thank you for this great reminder.
Blessings,
Charlotte

Warren Baldwin said...

Linked from Spiritual Sunday. Good selection from a great writer.

Noticed you are recent empty nesters. We have one left at home. Time of transition!

Ginger~~Enchanting Cottage said...

Interesting thought, I'm glad you shared this today.
God Bless,
Ginger

Cathy said...

Thanks for sharing those thoughts.

Apron Senorita said...

Kymber,

We are so blessed to have a loving Father to guide us. I prayer for him to shape me into what He needs me to be. I have made a mess of life on my own in the past, now I want to live life God's way.

Thanks, Yoli :)

Beginner said...

I always try to remember that I am only clay to be molded into the shape and form envisioned by the master artist.

Crown of Beauty said...

The title of your blog caught my eye while writing my comment at another blog.

I'm glad I dropped by!

Oswald Chambers is one of my favorite devotional writers. His writings have spoken into my life time and again, and this particular devotion that you quoted is one that has impacted me many years ago.

Thank you for this post.

Blessings,
Lidj