By Oswald Chambers
Discovery House Publisher
Grand Rapids, Michigan
1992
Reviewed by Benjamin C. Maxson, Director, General Conference Stewardship
I’ve been reading My Utmost for His Highest twice a year since 1979, and this powerful work continues to impact my life.
Originally from Scotland, Oswald Chambers, served as teacher and then director of a Bible College. He passed away in 1917 in Alexandria, Egypt, as a civilian chaplain to the British forces in World War I. Only in his 40’s when he died, Chambers left a spiritual legacy of inspiration and wisdom. His wife continued her ministry of transcribing her short-hand notes of his classes and sermons. She then compiled what she considered the best of Oswald’s material into this one-page per day devotional.
This book lives up to its title. Chambers calls us to radical discipleship and portrays Christianity as a total submission to Jesus Christ--to living in growing intimacy with God. His January 6 reading states Worship is giving God the best that He has given you. Be careful what you do with the best you have. Whenever you get a blessing from God, give it back to Him as a love-gift. Take time to meditate before God and offer the blessing back to Him in a deliberate act of worship.
Chambers brings us back to living the experience of grace in the practical issues of life. Christianity as a theory is useless until we bring it into daily life. I may teach sanctification and yet exhibit the spirit of Satan, the very spirit that persecutes Jesus Christ. The Spirit of Jesus is conscious of only one thing—a perfect oneness with the Father. . . . All I do should be based on a perfect oneness with Him, not on a self-willed determination to be godly. This will mean that others may use me, go around me, or completely ignore me, but if I will submit to it for His sake, I will prevent Jesus Christ from being persecuted. (Jan. 28).
