Certainty is the mark of the commonsense life-gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life.
Oswald ChambersRead
Am I as spontaneously kind to God as I used to be, or am I only expecting God to be kind to me? Am I full of the little things that cheer His heart over me, or am I whimpering because things are going hardly with me? There is no joy in the soul that has forgotten what God prizes.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote encourages self-reflection on one's kindness towards God in comparison to expecting kindness in return, emphasizing the joy found in understanding what God values.
Oswald Chambers' quote prompts individuals to consider the sincerity and spontaneity of their kindness towards God, questioning whether they focus more on receiving blessings rather than actively contributing to a relationship with the divine. The joy in the soul, he suggests, comes from an awareness and practice of the virtues and values that God cherishes, rather than solely lamenting one's troubles. This reflection highlights a deeper spiritual engagement and a call to nurture a generous spirit.
Themes
KindnessSelf-ReflectionJoyRelationshipGod
In practice
Example use cases
In a sermon about gratitude, this quote can be used to remind the congregation to show kindness and appreciation towards God.
More from Oswald Chambers
All quotes →Never make the blunder of trying to forecast the way God is going to answer your prayer.
Oswald ChambersRead
Service is the overflow which pours from a life filled with love and devotion. But strictly speaking, there is no call to that. Service is what I bring to the relationship and is the reflection of my identification with the nature of God.
Oswald ChambersRead
When we preach the love of God there is a danger of forgetting that the Bible reveals not first the love of God but the intense, blazing holiness of God, with His love at the center of that holiness.
Oswald ChambersRead
It is much easier to do something than to trust in God; we mistake panic for inspiration.
Oswald ChambersRead
Service is the overflow which pours from a life filled with love and devotion.
Oswald ChambersRead
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