ServiceVsDevotion

ServiceVsDevotion – (Excerpts from:Chambers, O. (1986). My utmost for his highest)(Jan. 16th-17th-18th)

 

A most interesting statement by O. Chambers is: 
“The greatest competitor of devotion to Jesus is service for Him”.

Question:
Is it easier to serve than to submit to His will?

Do we get so busy in ‘activities’ that we have no time to quietly wait upon the Lord?

 

God’s call is NOT the echo of my nature…

The call of God is not the echo of my nature; my affinities and personal temperament are not considered. As long as I consider my personal temperament and think about what I am fitted for, I shall never hear the call of God. But when I am brought into relationship with God, I am in the condition Isaiah was in. Isaiah’s soul was so attuned to God by the tremendous crisis he had gone through that he recorded the call of God to his amazed soul. The majority of us have no ear for anything but ourselves, we cannot hear a thing God says.To be brought into the zone of the call of God is to be profoundly altered.

 

 

The Call is essentially expressive of His nature…. REVEALS…

 

The call of God is essentially expressive of His nature; service is the outcome of what is fitted to my nature.The vocation of the natural life is stated by the apostle Paul—“When it pleased God to reveal His Son in me that I might preach Him” (i.e., sacramentally express Him) “among the Gentiles.”

 

Gal. 1:15-16 – ¹⁵ But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, ¹⁶ was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;

 

A ‘competitor’ of devotion is ‘service’

The greatest competitor of devotion to Jesus is service for Him. It is easier to serve than to be drunk to the dregs. The one aim of the call of God is the satisfaction of God, not a call to do something for Him. We are not sent to battle for God, but to be used by God in His battlings. Are we being more devoted to service than to Jesus Christ?

 

 

 

Pleasing God – This is an outline of scriptures and topics – what can you gleam from them? (Take from Logos Bible Software)

Synopsis

An essential aspect of the life of believers that is more than a matter of external observance, but a total and heartfelt commitment to God.

Pleasing God is commanded

Ro 12:1; Eph 5:8–10

Romans 12:1 (ESV) — 1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Ephesians 5:8–10 (ESV) — 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

It is more important to please God than to please people

Ga 1:10; Ga 1:15–16; 1 Th 2:4

Galatians 1:10 (ESV) — 10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Galatians 1:15–16 (ESV) — 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;

1 Thessalonians 2:4 (ESV) — 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.

Pleasing God involves inward attitudes, not simply external observance

1 Ch 29:17; Ps 51:16–17; Ro 14:17–18

1 Chronicles 29:17 (ESV) — 17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you.

Psalm 51:16–17 (ESV) — 16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Romans 14:17–18 (ESV) — 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.

Sacrifices and duties please God when carried out with the right attitude

Ex 29:18; Php 4:18

Exodus 29:18 (ESV) — 18 and burn the whole ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the Lord. It is a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the Lord.

Philippians 4:18 (ESV) — 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.

Results of pleasing God

Ps 37:23

Psalm 37:23 (ESV) — 23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way;

Examples of actions that please God

Prayer

Pr 15:8

Proverbs 15:8 (ESV) — 8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.

Doing God’s will

Heb 13:20–21

Hebrews 13:20–21 (ESV) — 20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

See also Mt 7:21 ; Eph 6:6 ; 1 Jn 2:17

Matthew 7:21 (ESV) — 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Ephesians 6:6 (ESV) — 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

1 John 2:17 (ESV) — 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Examples of those concerned to pleased God by their actions

Ne 5:19; Ps 19:14

Nehemiah 5:19 (ESV) — 19 Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.

Psalm 19:14 (ESV) — 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Examples of people who pleased God

The example of Jesus Christ

Mt 3:17

Matthew 3:17 (ESV) — 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

See also Mt 17:5 ; Jn 5:30 ; Jn 8:29 ; Col 1:19 ; 2 Pe 1:17

Matthew 17:5 (ESV) — 5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”

John 5:30 (ESV) — 30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

John 8:29 (ESV) — 29 And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”

Colossians 1:19 (ESV) — 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,

2 Peter 1:17 (ESV) — 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,”

Other examples

Ge 6:8Noah

Genesis 6:8 (ESV) — 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

Moses:

Ex 33:12–13; Ex 33:17

Exodus 33:12–13 (ESV) — 12 Moses said to the Lord, “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ 13 Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.”

Exodus 33:17 (ESV) — 17 And the Lord said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.”

Dt 33:23Naphtali; 1 Sa 2:26Samuel; 1 Ki 3:10Solomon; Lk 1:30Mary; Heb 11:5Enoch

Deuteronomy 33:23 (ESV) — 23 And of Naphtali he said, “O Naphtali, sated with favor, and full of the blessing of the Lord, possess the lake and the south.”

1 Samuel 2:26 (ESV) — 26 Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man.

1 Kings 3:10 (ESV) — 10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this.

Luke 1:30 (ESV) — 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

Hebrews 11:5 (ESV) — 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.

 

Things that God reveals  – (Below is an outline for additional source of information on the topic.)

Hidden mysteries

Da 2:22

Daniel 2:22 (ESV) — 22 he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.

See also Ge 41:16 ; Job 12:22 ; Da 2:28–30 ; Da 2:47

Genesis 41:16 (ESV) — 16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”

Job 12:22 (ESV) — 22 He uncovers the deeps out of darkness and brings deep darkness to light.

Daniel 2:28–30 (ESV) — 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these: 29 To you, O king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of what would be after this, and he who reveals mysteries made known to you what is to be. 30 But as for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your mind.

Daniel 2:47 (ESV) — 47 The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.”

Future events

Ge 41:25

Genesis 41:25 (ESV) — 25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.

See also 1 Sa 9:15–16 ; 2 Ki 8:10 ; Je 11:18 ; Je 38:21 ; Mt 2:13 ; Ac 18:9–10 ; Ac 27:22–24

1 Samuel 9:15–16 (ESV) — 15 Now the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed to Samuel: 16 “Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have seen my people, because their cry has come to me.”

2 Kings 8:10 (ESV) — 10 And Elisha said to him, “Go, say to him, ‘You shall certainly recover,’ but the Lord has shown me that he shall certainly die.”

Jeremiah 11:18 (ESV) — 18 The Lord made it known to me and I knew; then you showed me their deeds.

Jeremiah 38:21 (ESV) — 21 But if you refuse to surrender, this is the vision which the Lord has shown to me:

Matthew 2:13 (ESV) — 13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”

Acts 18:9–10 (ESV) — 9 And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.”

Acts 27:22–24 (ESV) — 22 Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, 24 and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’

His righteousness

Ro 1:17

Romans 1:17 (ESV) — 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

See also Is 56:1 ; Ro 3:21 ; Re 15:4

Isaiah 56:1 (ESV) — 1 Thus says the Lord: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my righteousness be revealed.

Romans 3:21 (ESV) — 21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—

Revelation 15:4 (ESV) — 4 Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

His wrath

Ro 1:18

Romans 1:18 (ESV) — 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

See also Nu 11:1 ; 2 Sa 6:7 ; Ps 7:11 ; Ro 2:5

Numbers 11:1 (ESV) — 1 And the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes, and when the Lord heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp.

2 Samuel 6:7 (ESV) — 7 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God.

Psalm 7:11 (ESV) — 11 God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day.

Romans 2:5 (ESV) — 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

His salvation

Ps 98:2

Psalm 98:2 (ESV) — 2 The Lord has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.

See also Is 52:10 ; Lk 2:30–32 ; Lk 3:6 ; Tt 2:11

Isaiah 52:10 (ESV) — 10 The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

Luke 2:30–32 (ESV) — 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

Luke 3:6 (ESV) — 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”

Titus 2:11 (ESV) — 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,

His glory

Is 40:5

Isaiah 40:5 (ESV) — 5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

The pillar of cloud and fire in the wilderness:

Ex 16:10; Ex 33:9; Nu 12:5; Dt 1:33; Ne 9:12; Ps 78:14; Ps 105:39

Exodus 16:10 (ESV) — 10 And as soon as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud.

Exodus 33:9 (ESV) — 9 When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses.

Numbers 12:5 (ESV) — 5 And the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent and called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward.

Deuteronomy 1:33 (ESV) — 33 who went before you in the way to seek you out a place to pitch your tents, in fire by night and in the cloud by day, to show you by what way you should go.

Nehemiah 9:12 (ESV) — 12 By a pillar of cloud you led them in the day, and by a pillar of fire in the night to light for them the way in which they should go.

Psalm 78:14 (ESV) — 14 In the daytime he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a fiery light.

Psalm 105:39 (ESV) — 39 He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light by night.

Ex 33:18–23the Lord shows his glory to Moses

Exodus 33:18–23 (ESV) — 18 Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” 19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” 21 And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, 22 and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.”

The cloud of glory in the tabernacle and the temple:

Ex 40:34; Le 16:2; Dt 31:15; Eze 9:3; Eze 10:4

Exodus 40:34 (ESV) — 34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

Leviticus 16:2 (ESV) — 2 and the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die. For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat.

Deuteronomy 31:15 (ESV) — 15 And the Lord appeared in the tent in a pillar of cloud. And the pillar of cloud stood over the entrance of the tent.

Ezekiel 9:3 (ESV) — 3 Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub on which it rested to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist.

Ezekiel 10:4 (ESV) — 4 And the glory of the Lord went up from the cherub to the threshold of the house, and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was filled with the brightness of the glory of the Lord.

Dt 5:24; Ps 97:6; Ps 102:16; Is 35:2; Is 44:23; Is 60:2; Ac 7:55

Deuteronomy 5:24 (ESV) — 24 And you said, ‘Behold, the Lord our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire. This day we have seen God speak with man, and man still live.

Psalm 97:6 (ESV) — 6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory.

Psalm 102:16 (ESV) — 16 For the Lord builds up Zion; he appears in his glory;

Isaiah 35:2 (ESV) — 2 it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God.

Isaiah 44:23 (ESV) — 23 Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it; shout, O depths of the earth; break forth into singing, O mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and will be glorified in Israel.

Isaiah 60:2 (ESV) — 2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.

Acts 7:55 (ESV) — 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

The mystery of the gospel

Eph 3:2–3“mystery” in the NT means “something previously hidden, undiscoverable by human means but now revealed by God”.

Ephesians 3:2–3 (ESV) — 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.

See also Mt 13:11 ; Ro 16:25–26 ; Ga 3:23 ; Eph 3:5–6 ; Col 1:26–27 ; 2 Ti 1:10

Matthew 13:11 (ESV) — 11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

Romans 16:25–26 (ESV) — 25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—

Galatians 3:23 (ESV) — 23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.

Ephesians 3:5–6 (ESV) — 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Colossians 1:26–27 (ESV) — 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

2 Timothy 1:10 (ESV) — 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

The revelation of God’s will

Physical means by which God reveals his will

By the Urim and Thummim:

Ex 28:30; Nu 27:21

Exodus 28:30 (ESV) — 30 And in the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be on Aaron’s heart, when he goes in before the Lord. Thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the Lord regularly.

Numbers 27:21 (ESV) — 21 And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the Lord. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he and all the people of Israel with him, the whole congregation.”

By casting lots:

Jos 18:6–10; Jon 1:7; Ac 1:26

Joshua 18:6–10 (ESV) — 6 And you shall describe the land in seven divisions and bring the description here to me. And I will cast lots for you here before the Lord our God. 7 The Levites have no portion among you, for the priesthood of the Lord is their heritage. And Gad and Reuben and half the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan eastward, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave them.” 8 So the men arose and went, and Joshua charged those who went to write the description of the land, saying, “Go up and down in the land and write a description and return to me. And I will cast lots for you here before the Lord in Shiloh.” 9 So the men went and passed up and down in the land and wrote in a book a description of it by towns in seven divisions. Then they came to Joshua to the camp at Shiloh, 10 and Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord. And there Joshua apportioned the land to the people of Israel, to each his portion.

Jonah 1:7 (ESV) — 7 And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.

Acts 1:26 (ESV) — 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

God’s self-revelation makes his will plain

Ro 1:20

Romans 1:20 (ESV) — 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

See also Zec 7:11–12 ; Jn 9:41 ; Jn 16:8 ; Ro 7:7

Zechariah 7:11–12 (ESV) — 11 But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear. 12 They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the Lord of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the Lord of hosts.

John 9:41 (ESV) — 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.

John 16:8 (ESV) — 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:

Romans 7:7 (ESV) — 7 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”

God’s self-revelation is according to his own sovereign purpose

Is 65:1

Isaiah 65:1 (ESV) — 1 I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, “Here I am, here I am,” to a nation that was not called by my name.

 

 

The Complete text by O. Chambers:

The voice of the nature of God

I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send?Isaiah 6:8.

When we speak of the call of God, we are apt to forget the most important feature, viz., the nature of the One Who calls. There is the call of the sea, the call of the mountains, the call of the great ice barriers; but these calls are only heard by the few. The call is the expression of the nature from which it comes, and we can only record the call if the same nature is in us. The call of God is the expression of God’s nature, not of our nature. There are strands of the call of God providentially at work for us which we recognize and no one else does. It is the threading of God’s voice to us in some particular matter, and it is no use consulting anyone else about it. We have to keep that profound relationship between our souls and God.

The call of God is not the echo of my nature; my affinities and personal temperament are not considered. As long as I consider my personal temperament and think about what I am fitted for, I shall never hear the call of God. But when I am brought into relationship with God, I am in the condition Isaiah was in. Isaiah’s soul was so attuned to God by the tremendous crisis he had gone through that he recorded the call of God to his amazed soul. The majority of us have no ear for anything but ourselves, we cannot hear a thing God says.[641 highlights]To be brought into the zone of the call of God is to be profoundly altered.^[1]

 

 

The vocation of the natural life

But when it pleased God … to reveal His son in me… Gal. 1:15–16 .

The call of God is not a call to any particular service; my interpretation of it may be, because contact with the nature of God has made me realize what I would like to do for Him. The call of God is essentially expressive of His nature; service is the outcome of what is fitted to my nature. The vocation of the natural life is stated by the apostle Paul—“When it pleased God to reveal His Son in me that I might preach Him” (i.e., sacramentally express Him) “among the Gentiles.”

Service is the overflow of superabounding devotion;[354 highlights]but, profoundly speaking, there is no call to that, it is my own little actual bit, and is the echo of my identification with the nature of God. Service is the natural part of my life. God gets me into a relationship with Himself whereby I understand His call, then I do things out of sheer love for Him on my own account. To serve God is the deliberate love-gift of a nature that has heard the call of God. Service is expressive of that which is fitted to my nature: God’s call is expressive of His nature; consequently when I receive His nature and hear His call, the voice of the Divine nature sounds in both and the two work together. The Son of God reveals Himself in me, and I serve Him in the ordinary ways of life out of devotion to Him.

It is the Lord!

Thomas answered and said unto Him, My Lord and my God.John 20:28.

“Give Me to drink.” How many of us are set upon Jesus Christ slaking our thirst when we ought to be satisfying Him? We should be pouring out now, spending to the last limit, not drawing on Him to satisfy us. “Ye shall be witnesses unto Me”—that means a life of unsullied, uncompromising, and unbribed devotion to the Lord Jesus, a satisfaction to Him wherever He places us.

Beware of anything that competes with loyalty to Jesus Christ. The greatest competitor of devotion to Jesus is service for Him. It is easier to serve than to be drunk to the dregs. The one aim of the call of God is the satisfaction of God, not a call to do something for Him.[37 highlights]We are not sent to battle for God, but to be used by God in His battlings. Are we being more devoted to service than to Jesus Christ?