Over the years, I've tried out several different devotional books to go along with my Bible reading during my quiet time. The one I keep coming back to, which consistently challenges and convicts me is "My Utmost for His Highest: The Golden Book of Oswald Chambers1". I highly recommend it if you are looking for a devotional book.
Do any of you have a favorite devotional book that you would recommend?
The copy I'm currently reading from is one that belonged to my parents. I'd like to share with you the June 1st devotion.
THE STAGGERING QUESTION"Son of man, can these bones live?" Ezekiel xxxvii. 3.
Can that sinner be turned into a saint? Can that twisted life be put right? There is only one answer: "O Lord, Thou knowest, I don't." Never trample in with religious common sense and say - "Oh, yes, with a little more Bible reading and devotion and prayer, I can see how it can be done."
It is much easier to do something than to trust in God; we mistake panic for inspiration. That is why there are so few fellow workers with God and so many workers for Him. Am I quite sure that God will do what I cannot do? I despair of men in the degree in which I have never realized that God has done anything for me. Is my experience such a wonderful realization of God's power and might that I can never despair of anyone I see? Have I had any spiritual work done in me at all? The degree of panic is the degree of the lack of personal spiritual experience.
"Behold, O my people, I will open your graves." When God wants to show you what human nature is like apart from Himself, He has to show it you in yourself. If the Spirit of God has given you a vision of what you are apart from the grace of God (and He only does it when His Spirit is at work), you know there is no criminal who is half so bad in actuality as you know yourself to be in possibility. My "grave" has been opened by God and "I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing." God's Spirit continually reveals what human nature is like apart from His grace.
1 Copyright, 1935, by DODD, MEAD & COMPANY, Inc.; Fifty-sixth printing
3 comments:
But wait, there's nothing flashy or post-modern about this. What about the seekers? How will they benefit from this devotion? How can you expect something that is nearly 3/4 of a century old to have any impact on people?
In case you didn't pick up on the sarcasm, I'll let you off the hook now. Those words are just as true today as they were in 1935 and I sure did need to read them. Thanks for posting it.
A just finished reading a couple of books that I think you would like. The first is "Room of Marvels" by James Bryan Smith and the second is "The Shack" by William P. Young. Both of the books are very similar to "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" by Mitch Albom.
They are not "devotional books" per/say but they are very though provoking. If you read them let me know what you think.
My wife recomends "3:16" by Max Lucado as a devotional book, or "Captured by Grace" by Dr. David Jeremiah. I have read the latter one; it is good.
I've just finished reading another Philip Yancy book, "What's So Amazing About Grace?" and found it both convicting for me personally and full of insights into contemporary Christianity in the USA (which is useful to me as I'll be moving back there in a year or so.) The devotional is a good one!
There's never anything shallow in that book. He makes you think.
Mom
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