Utmost for His Highest: 2016

Saturday, December 31, 2016

My Utmost - Let Us Keep to the Point

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Let Us Keep to the Point

"…my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death." —Philippians 1:20

My Utmost for His Highest. “…my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed….” We will all feel very much ashamed if we do not yield to Jesus the areas of our lives He has asked us to yield to Him. It’s as if Paul were saying, “My determined purpose is to be my utmost for His highest— my best for His glory.” To reach that level of determination is a matter of the will, not of debate or of reasoning. It is absolute and irrevocable surrender of the will at that point. An undue amount of thought and consideration for ourselves is what keeps us from making that decision, although we cover it up with the pretense that it is others we are considering. When we think seriously about what it will cost others if we obey the call of Jesus, we tell God He doesn’t know what our obedience will mean. Keep to the point— He does know. Shut out every other thought and keep yourself before God in this one thing only— my utmost for His highest. I am determined to be absolutely and entirely for Him and Him alone.

My Unstoppable Determination for His Holiness. “Whether it means life or death-it makes no difference!” (see Philippians 1:21). Paul was determined that nothing would stop him from doing exactly what God wanted. But before we choose to follow God’s will, a crisis must develop in our lives. This happens because we tend to be unresponsive to God’s gentler nudges. He brings us to the place where He asks us to be our utmost for Him and we begin to debate. He then providentially produces a crisis where we have to decide— for or against. That moment becomes a great crossroads in our lives. If a crisis has come to you on any front, surrender your will to Jesus absolutely and irrevocably.

Bible in One Year: Genesis 1-3; Matthew 1

My Utmost for His Highest © 1992 by Oswald Chambers Publications Association, Ltd. Original edition © 1935 by Dodd, Mead & Company, Inc. Copyright renewed 1963 by Oswald Chambers Publications Association, Ltd. All rights reserved. United States publication rights are held by Discovery House, which is affiliated with Our Daily Bread Ministries.

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My Utmost - Let Us Keep To The Point

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Let Us Keep To The Point

My eager desire and hope being that I may never feel ashamed, but that now as ever I may do honour to Christ in my own person by fearless courage. — Philippians 1:20 (MOFFATT)

My Utmost for His Highest. “My eager desire and hope being that I may never feel ashamed.” We shall all feel very much ashamed if we do not yield to Jesus on the point He has asked us to yield to Him. Paul says — “My determination is to be my utmost for His Highest.” To get there is a question of will, not of debate nor of reasoning, but a surrender of will, an absolute and irrevocable surrender on that point. An over-weening consideration for ourselves is the thing that keeps us from that decision, though we put it that we are considering others. When we consider what it will cost others if we obey the call of Jesus, we tell God He does not know what our obedience will mean. Keep to the point; He does know. Shut out every other consideration and keep yourself before God for this one thing only — “My Utmost for His Highest.” I am determined to be absolutely and entirely for Him and for Him alone.

My Undeterredness for His Holiness. “Whether that means life or death, no matter!” (v.21). Paul is determined that nothing shall deter him from doing exactly what God wants. God’s order has to work up to a crisis in our lives because we will not heed the gentler way. He brings us to the place where He asks us to be our utmost for Him, and we begin to debate; then He produces a providential crisis where we have to decide —- for or against, and from that point the “Great Divide” begins.

If the crisis has come to you on any line, surrender your will to Him absolutely and irrevocably.

Bible in One Year: Genesis 1-3; Matthew 1

My Utmost for His Highest © 1927 in the U.K. by Oswald Chambers Publications Association, Ltd. © 1935 by Dodd, Mead & Company, Inc. Copyright renewed 1963 by Oswald Chambers Publications Association, Ltd. All rights reserved. United States publication rights are held by Discovery House, which is affiliated with Our Daily Bread Ministries.

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Devotion

Sabbath- December 31, 2016

I Press Toward the Mark

This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Phil. 3:13, 14

Another year of your life closes today. How can you look back upon it? Have you made advancement in the divine life? Have you increased in spirituality? Have you crucified self, with the affections and lusts? Have you an increased interest in the study of God's Word? Have you gained decided victories over your own feelings and waywardness? Oh, what has been the record of your life for the year which has now passed into eternity, never to be recalled?

As you enter upon a new year, let it be with an earnest resolve to have your course onward and upward. Let your life be more elevated and exalted than it has hitherto been. Make it your aim not to seek your own interest and pleasure, but to advance the cause of your Redeemer. Remain not in a position where you ever need help yourself, and where others have to guard you to keep you in the narrow way. You may be strong to exert a sanctifying influence upon others. You may be where your soul's interest will be awakened to do good to others, to comfort the sorrowful, strengthen the weak, and to bear your testimony for Christ whenever opportunity offers. Aim to honor God in everything, always and everywhere. Carry your religion into everything.

Prepare for eternity with such a zeal as you have not yet manifested. Educate your mind to love the Bible, to love the prayer meeting, to love the hour of meditation, and, above all, the hour when the soul communes with God. Become heavenly-minded if you would unite with the heavenly choir in the mansions above....

A new page is turned in the book of the recording angel. . . . Let a record be stamped there which you will not be ashamed to have revealed to the gaze of men and angels. Maranatha.

Friday, December 30, 2016

My Utmost - Yesterday

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Yesterday

You shall not go out with haste,…for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard. —Isaiah 52:12

Security from Yesterday. “…God requires an account of what is past” (Ecclesiastes 3:15). At the end of the year we turn with eagerness to all that God has for the future, and yet anxiety is apt to arise when we remember our yesterdays. Our present enjoyment of God’s grace tends to be lessened by the memory of yesterday’s sins and blunders. But God is the God of our yesterdays, and He allows the memory of them to turn the past into a ministry of spiritual growth for our future. God reminds us of the past to protect us from a very shallow security in the present.

Security for Tomorrow. “…the Lord will go before you….” This is a gracious revelation— that God will send His forces out where we have failed to do so. He will keep watch so that we will not be tripped up again by the same failures, as would undoubtedly happen if He were not our “rear guard.” And God’s hand reaches back to the past, settling all the claims against our conscience.

Security for Today. “You shall not go out with haste….” As we go forth into the coming year, let it not be in the haste of impetuous, forgetful delight, nor with the quickness of impulsive thoughtlessness. But let us go out with the patient power of knowing that the God of Israel will go before us. Our yesterdays hold broken and irreversible things for us. It is true that we have lost opportunities that will never return, but God can transform this destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future. Let the past rest, but let it rest in the sweet embrace of Christ.

Leave the broken, irreversible past in His hands, and step out into the invincible future with Him.

Bible in One Year: Malachi 1-4; Revelation 22

Oswald Chambers 2017 Wall Calendar

Portrait of a Man of God 1874–1917

This calendar honors the life and legacy of the author of My Utmost for His Highest,commemorating the 100th anniversary of his death, and offers a window of insight into Chambers’ servant-hearted life through photos, biographical information, and meaningful quotes.

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My Utmost - Yesterday

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Yesterday

The God of Israel will be your rereward. — Isaiah 52:12

Security from Yesterday. “God requireth that which is past.” At the end of the year we turn with eagerness to all that God has for the future, and yet anxiety is apt to arise from remembering the yesterdays. Our present enjoyment of God’s grace is apt to be checked by the memory of yesterday’s sins and blunders. But God is the God of our yesterdays, and He allows the memory of them in order to turn the past into a ministry of spiritual culture for the future. God reminds us of the past lest we get into a shallow security in the present.

Security for To-morrow. “For the Lord will go before you.” This is a gracious revelation, that God will garrison where we have failed to. He will watch lest things trip us up again into like failure, as they assuredly would do if He were not our rereward. God’s hand reaches back to the past and makes a clearing-house for conscience.

Security for To-day. “For ye shall not go out with haste.” As we go forth into the coming year, let it not be in the haste of impetuous, unremembering delight, nor with the flight of impulsive thoughtlessness, but with the patient power of knowing that the God of Israel will go before us. Our yesterdays present irreparable things to us; it is true that we have lost opportunities which will never return, but God can transform this destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future. Let the past sleep, but let it sleep on the bosom of Christ.

Leave the Irreparable Past in His hands, and step out into the Irresistible Future with Him.

Bible in One Year: Malachi 1-4; Revelation 22

Oswald Chambers 2017 Wall Calendar

Portrait of a Man of God 1874–1917

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See How God Changed Lives in 2016

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Thanks for Your Partnership

We love to hear how God is changing lives! We’re privileged to play a part and are so thankful for the prayers and support of friends like you! Enjoy these stories of hope and change . . .

I love Our Daily Bread. It was through this ministry that I originally got saved. At the time, I was given an Our Daily Bread that was a year old and I thought it was trash because it wasn’t current, not realizing the timeless and matchless power of the Word of God! That night I read about the love that Jesus has for me which surpasses all understanding, and my impenetrable walls of Jericho fell in. Today I eagerly wake up to read what our heavenly Father has to say about how I’m supposed to live my life for Him in the light of love. Thank you so much, and may God bless you always!

—ROBERT

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God is at Work! See How.

BRAZIL: Olympic Outreach

The 2016 Olympics and Paralympics events brought 15,903 athletes and thousands of spectators representing more than 200 countries to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Our Daily Bread Ministries Team in Brazil could not pass up this opportunity to “spread the Word.” Working with sports and evangelism ministries in Brazil, thousands of volunteers from 400 churches were mobilized to distribute gospel literature in the areas surrounding the Olympic competition events. In addition, coordinated outreach efforts involved sports clinics, community festivals, Kids Games events, host homes for athletes, media interviews, and community peace walks.

ASIA-PACIFIC: Our Daily Bread Ministries Audio Device

Many pastors and others who live in remote areas of the Asia-Pacific Region have limited access to biblically based resources. To meet these needs, the Our Daily Bread Ministries Audio Device Project was begun. The devices feature the entire Bible, readings from Our Daily Bread, sermons, and hymns. In 2016 over 600 devices were distributed. In Indonesia the devices were distributed to pastors in remote areas. In Malaysia and Cambodia the devices were distributed to those who are illiterate, elderly, or vision impaired. Please pray that we will be able to distribute over 3,000 devices in 2017.

UNITED STATES: Youth for Christ Devotional

A 17-day devotional resource was created for Youth for Christ in 2016. Used specifically with their Project Serve Summer Camp Team, this devotional featured 7 days of inspirational readings and Scripture passages to be read during the camp experience, as well as 10 days of devotions to strengthen and encourage each young person at home after returning from camp.

See 2016 Year in Review

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