This is a picture of my copy of My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers. This poor little book in a mess. I’ve been reading this very copy daily for over 20 years! The cover falls off and large chunks of the book slide out of I don’t hold it just right. I love this book and I’ve wrung so much out of it!
I know it sounds strange, but this beat up old book really inspires me. I look at it and think, “I want to be like this book.”
Let me explain:
This book gets read. It doesn’t just sit on the shelf looking pretty. It has a message and that message is heard and makes an impact. You’ve heard the saying, “You may be the only Bible the some people will ever read.” Well, I want to be a book that God’s message can be communicated through.
I catch something new every time I read through it. Chambers is deep and that’s one of the things that keeps me coming back to this book. One of my greatest fears is becoming stale and irrelevant. I long to be a deep well that others can draw from.
It’s old but powerful. This one is much like the second one. I know I’m not really old, but I’m at the halfway point in my life and I think often about how aging will effect the impact I’m able to make on the world around me. I long to hold onto my zeal for Jesus and to keep my vision strong.
It’s spent. Seriously, look at that thing. I really don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to go without buying a new one. I’ve brought it everywhere with me for the last 20+ years. I’ve read it over and over. I don’t want to reach the end of my life wishing I’d been spent more for the cause of Christ. I want God to wring every last bit out of me for His glory.
I love how Paul puts it in 2nd Corinthians 12:15, “I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you.”
Lord, spend me to the last ounce of all I have and am. Amen.
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Lee,
Amazing! I still read the copy that my grandfather used (his notes are worth reading themselves)…the same grandfather that was in The 7 Praying Men with Lyell Rader. I wonder how many times they read it together as they met for prayer?
My Bible looks the same. A youth group I was speaking to offered to buy me a new one because they were aghast at how much tape was holding it together. I told them I would only accept it if someone would transfer all of my margin notes, highlights and underlines to the new one. They bought me a Starbucks gift card, instead.
I love that story Joe! It’s for that very reason that I’ve been so reluctant to move towards e-books.
Lee, I usually see these in my e-mail, but I didn’t this time. Thanks for emailing me to let me know about it. I’d be sad to have missed it!