Out from the drudgeries

Huge waves that would frighten an ordinary swimmer produce a tremendous thrill for the surfer who has ridden them. Let’s apply that to our own circumstances. The things we try to avoid and fight against— tribulation, suffering, and persecution— are the very things that produce abundant joy in us. “We are more than conquerors through Him” “in all these things”; not in spite of them, but in the midst of them. A saint doesn’t know the joy of the Lord in spite of tribulation, but because of it. Paul said, “I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation” - Oswald Chambers

I love thrilling activities that create excitement and offer challenges to overcome: sky-diving is the next thing I am looking forward to doing. But having said that, Oswald Chambers idea of applying the concept of tremendous thrill to our own circumstances just seems too much. It is frightening at times to read what he writes - while often stirring in the spirit, they are 'drastic, decisive and destructive' to the natural life. One just has to read his books  "Christian Disciplines" and "Biblical Ethics" to realise how much despair it can cause to one who is set on self-realisation instead of Christ-realisation. It is not untrue to say that there are times when one catch sight of the feeling produced in the heart of the rich young ruler when Jesus told him to sell all his riches to the poor and follow Him. On other occasions, it perplexes and terrifies one to even consider what God might bring one through in the refining fire. But of course, once considered through faith and a renewed mind in Christ, it also brings about the realisation that the only way forward is to surrender and follow the Lamb wherever He leads. The path forward gets increasing narrow as any room left for jostling against God diminishes exponentially - circumstances do not permit it anyway. Inevitably one has to reach a point where one is able to align oneself with Paul's statement that "all things are loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus" or to become "very sorrowful" towards God's call. His grace is sufficient. 

"We are more than conquerors through Him"