Service vs. Devotion to Jesus

Oswald Chambers, in his My Utmost for His Highest, fairly forces me to think and to write. I wish all devotionals were like this.  What most devotionals do is try to clarify a passage, as a preacher does; others proffer an illustration for a text;  still others simply aim to be poetic and clever in the use of words; some merely spoon-feed doctrine to the reader.

But what SHOULD a devotional do?  Chambers seems to be in another category, of devotionals that aim to provide application, tersely, and in a way that is beautiful --- as surgery is beautiful, or a bonsai, or the sincere smile of a child.

 For example, he writes for January 18,

"Give Me to drink."  How many of us are set upon Jesus Christ slaking our thirst when we ought to be satisfying Him?  We should be pouring out now, spending to the last limit, not drawing on Him to satisfy us.

I myself was taken aback by this.  What?  Jesus needs something?  How can the Lord want for any satisfaction I might offer?  And, are you suggestion He isn't perfectly satisfied with moi, "just as I am"?  The Lord doesn't need us to be satisfied. But as those who have already received His very blood of atonement, Holy Spirit, covenant promises, eternal life and who will be co-heirs with Him of the whole creation, we should ask, "Why am I still unsatisfied and thirsty and just coming to Him for more?"

Then Chambers does an odd thing.  After suggesting that we should be "spending to the last limit" to serve the Lord with "unsullied, uncompromising, and unbridled devotion", he reverses the argument.

The greatest competitor to devotion to Jesus is service for Him. It is easier to serve than to be drunk to the dregs. The one aim of the call of God is the satisfaction of God, not a call to do something for Him.

Without a long explanation, he is jumping right to his conclusion, leaving the reasoning out of this to be done by the reader.   Jesus did the same thing with his parables and sayings, rather than giving bulletproof logic and flow-charts and such, leaving to the listener to ponder and seek and find the Truth.

What Chambers says is that, no, God doesn't need my service, though I should be giving it unsullied. He doesn't need to receive it; the need is mine; I need to render it.  This is both satisfying to God and fulfilling to me.  Why is it satisfying to God?  Because obedience and service to God, when it comes from love to God and the sense of debt we ought to feel, is pure and pleasing to Him and gives His living water to those around us, who also are drawn to Him.  Why does it fulfill me?  Because serving God is the very purpose of our being; He is the Meaning of Life.

And so his argument that "the greatest competitor to devotion to Jesus is service for Him" makes sense.  To a great many "miserable Christians" going to long, boring meetings and doing church stuff is all they know of Christianity.  They are like Martha, and have never stopped their work for the Lord to sit at His feet and marvel.

When I come away from a few moments with this devotional, I am not merely thinking, "That was nice", or "How interesting", but "I WILL DO SOMETHING".  That response, I say, is what a devotional reading should elicit.

What should I do, then?  I will "pour out now, spend to the last limit" now.  For many years I've been just waiting, waiting for more wisdom, more power, more courage, more of the Spirit, more of his grace, more knowledge; buying more books to read and dreaming about what kind of evangelist I will be ... one day when I've got enough.  It's time to ask the Lord to send out workers, instead of just sitting by as a thinker, planner and critic. It's time for me to say, "Here am I, send me," and to up and obey his command to "GO!"  Why?  Not because He needs me, but because I need to obey and render devotion (as opposed to mere service) to my Lord.  To break the priceless jar of ointment and pour it out on His feet, "Waste!" to those who know Him not, but precious to Him Who alone is worthy of it.

Lord, only go with me, as you have promised, and let me be poured out and wasted for you today, this week, here and now.  Let me "go in this thy strength" for you, content that your presence alone is all the strength, wisdom, courage and help I need, and confident that the obedience of faith is the only satisfaction and success you desire.  AMEN