My Utmost for His Highest-Day 1
Intro
I realized my need for accountability this summer, when I couldn’t find my Bible. I couldn’t remember when I last used it or where I put it. There’s an old saying that goes like this: “Dusty Bibles lead to dirty lives.” Amen and amen. This year was not my best. I befriended and allowed myself to be influenced by exceedingly worldly people; regular drinkers and drug users were and still are people I count as my best friends and social group. I need to recommit and fully devote myself, and I need to not drop my commitment in a few weeks or months. I figure if it’s on the internet where I least I can see it every day, it’ll be so much harder to quit. So, I decided to publish my reading of My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers in hopes that it will keep me accountable to doing my daily devotions and taking them seriously.
Suffering Afflictions and Going the Second Mile
“And you cannot imitate the nature of Jesus- it is either in you or it is not.”
Jesus’ teachings about conflict can be summarized in four words: “Turn the other cheek.” We are called to not only to take “hits” with grace, but to present our other cheek for another one. What? Paul tells us that “love is the fulfillment of the law,” (Romans 13:10) but it is so hard to practice. I’m the most defensive person on this planet. If I do something, I can justify it to you upside down and backwards. Whether it’s right or wrong, you can bet I will cover my butt like a champ. That’s not something positive, or anything I should feel good about. Taking persecution, taking mockery, being slandered for Jesus’ name is what we shoud count as joy as Christians. Why are we so often ashamed?
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”( Matthew 5:11–12)
I pray God will give me His joy and peace when my friends make fun of me and think I’m stupid because of my faith. I pray he helps us to live unashamed. I pray he comes soon because heaven sounds so cool. I can’t wait to see him.
