My Utmost for His Highest - May 15th - The Habit of Rising to the Occasion

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. - Ephesians 1:18

    Remember what you are saved for--that the Son of God might be manifested in your mortal flesh (see 2 Corinthians 4:10). Bend the whole energy of your powers to realize your election as a child of God; rise to the occasion every time.

    You cannot do anything for your salvation, but you must do something to manifest it, you must work out what God has worked in (Philippians 2:12). Are you working it out with your tongue, and your brain and your nerves? If you are still the same miserable crosspatch, set on your own way, then it is a lie to say that God has saved and sanctified you.

    God is the Master Engineer, He allows the difficulties to come in order to see if you can vault over them properly--"By my God have I leaped over a wall. (Psalm 18:29)" God will never shield you from any of the requirements of a son or daughter of His. 1 Peter 4:12 says--"Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you." Rise to the occasion; do the thing. It does not matter how it hurts as long as it gives God the chance to manifest Himself in your mortal flesh.

    May God not find the whine in us any more, but may He find us full of spiritual pluck and athleticism, ready to face anything He brings. We have to exercise ourselves in order that the Son of God may be manifested in our mortal flesh. God never has museums. The only aim of the life is that the Son of God may be manifested, and all dictation to God vanishes. Our Lord never dictated to His Father, and we are not here to dictate to God; we are here to submit to His will so that He may work through us what He wants. When we realize this, He will make us broken bread and poured-out wine to feed and nourish others.

- From Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" - Classic Edition

Highlights and Underlines are courtesy of Mom from her print edition.

My thoughts

God with us. Never forget that my salvation is so Christ can work through me. That is the hope of my calling. I must work out in me what God has worked in. That is a great reading of Philippians 2:12 that so many have given the idea that our salvation is by works. We are not saved by works. God enters our life and daily I need to surrender to Him so that His works in me will be manifested. I must look different if I am to say that God has saved me. Difficulties come my way for me to then vault over them. He allows the difficulties. Responding to trials centered on God shows that God is in me and I am trusting in Him. God with me. That's why I am here so people will see God in me.