Have a Message and Be One
A messenger is not just one who speaks the truth, but one who has been set alight by it.
Reflections on Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost for His Highest
Oswald Chambers calls believers not merely to speak the message of Christ but to be the message. A Christian’s life is not meant to be a hollow vessel through which words pass, but rather a living demonstration of Christ’s indwelling presence. Just as Jesus Himself was the Word made flesh, we are called to embody the truth we proclaim.
This requires more than a desire to serve. It is not enough to have enthusiasm or a natural inclination toward ministry. The true messenger of Christ is shaped by God’s hand—convicted of sin, sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and molded into an instrument fit for His purposes. This transformation does not happen through mere study or effort but through the indwelling Spirit, who makes the message alive within us.
Preaching is not simply telling others about salvation; it is being a living testimony of it. The disciples, after Pentecost, were not just informed—they became embodiments of the gospel. Their words had power because their lives were utterly surrendered to the Spirit. The same is true for us: before we can proclaim the liberating truth of Christ, we must first live in that liberty ourselves.
God’s call is not to be mere mouthpieces but to be messengers—filled with His life, set aflame by His presence, and wholly yielded to His will.
Personal Journal Entry
Lord, You have not called me to merely speak of You. You have called me to be a reflection of Your life. To be a message, not just a messenger. This changes everything.
There was a time when I thought ministry was about learning the right words—studying theology, sharpening my understanding, and communicating truth effectively. But the gospel is not just a doctrine to explain; it is a life to live. If I speak with the tongues of men and angels but do not live in the reality of Your indwelling presence, my words are empty.
Jesus, You were the message itself—every word You spoke carried the weight of a life fully surrendered to the Father. The power of Your ministry was not in eloquence but in absolute dependence. And now, You live in me to express Yourself through me in the same way. My role is not to manufacture wisdom, but to yield, to let You speak and move freely through my surrendered vessel.
I do not want to preach a Christ I have not intimately known. I do not want to testify of a freedom I have not walked in. Let my life be the evidence of Your truth, not merely my words. When I open my mouth, let it be the overflow of a heart utterly convinced, not by intellect alone but by experience—an experience rooted in union with You.
Lord, I trust You to live Your life through me in this moment. You are shaping me, refining me, and setting me apart for Your purposes. May every word I speak and every action I take be an expression of Your life within. I refuse to rely on my own strength or wisdom. I choose to rest in You, allowing Your Spirit to breathe life into the message I bear.
Prayer
Father, I thank You that You have not left me to merely talk about You but have made me one with You. You have placed Your life within me, that I might not only proclaim Your truth but embody it. I rejoice that I do not have to strive to be a messenger—I already am one because Christ is my life. Let every word I speak and every step I take be an overflow of Your indwelling presence. You are faithful to accomplish Your work in and through me, and I rest in that assurance. Amen.
Image Intent:
A single candle burning brightly in the darkness, symbolizing a life set aflame by God’s presence.
Credits: Devotional insights from My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. Photo credit to Unsplash.