Oswald Chambers on Coming unto Jesus
I love the devotional this morning from Oswald Chambers. The reason there is so much fatigue and apathy in ministry and service is that we do not “come unto Jesus.” We come to the work, or come to the rules, or come to conflict between believers, or do not come at all to any thing at all, and it is all so exhausting. “Those that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength,” Isaiah wrote, and coming to Jesus refreshes, relaxes, re-orients, and re-energizes us for Him. Oswald Chamber’s devotional is below. You can find it daily at: www.myutmost.org
Come unto Me. — Matthew 11:28
Where the sin and the sorrow cease, and the song and the saint commence. Do I want to get there? I can now. The questions that matter in life are remarkably few, and they are all answered by the words — “Come unto Me.” Not — Do this, or don’t do that; but — “Come unto Me.” If I will come to Jesus my actual life will be brought into accordance with my real desires; I will actually cease from sin, and actually find the song of the Lord begin.
Have you ever come to Jesus? Watch the stubbornness of your heart, you will do anything rather than the one simple childlike thing — “Come unto Me.” If you want the actual experience of ceasing from sin, you must come to Jesus.
Jesus Christ makes Himself the touchstone. Watch how He used the word “Come.” At the most unexpected moments there is the whisper of the Lord — “Come unto Me,” and you are drawn immediately. Personal contact with Jesus alters everything. Be stupid enough to come and commit yourself to what He says. The attitude of coming is that the will resolutely lets go of everything and deliberately commits all to Him.
“. . . and I will give you rest,” i.e., I will stay you. Not — I will put you to bed and hold your hand and sing you to sleep; but — I will get you out of bed, out of the languor and exhaustion, out of the state of being half dead while you are alive; I will imbue you with the spirit of life, and you will be stayed by the perfection of vital activity. We get pathetic and talk about “suffering the will of the Lord!” Where is the majestic vitality and might of the Son of God about that?