The Quill and Me—Devotional Blog•Oswald Chambers Reflections

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July 12
Today's Reading: My Utmost for His Highest
Ephesians 4:13
". . . till we all come . . . to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ . . ."

Wanting Christ Himself

Reconciliation is not just about me being restored to God — it is about the whole human race being brought back into the relationship that God designed from the beginning. Jesus Christ accomplished that reconciliation through His death and resurrection. And now, His people — His church — are meant to reveal Him, as a group of believers, together.

But the church loses its spiritual power the moment it becomes self‑seeking. 

When it becomes focused on:

its own comfort,
its own programs,
its own growth,
its own reputation,
its own spiritual "experience,"

…it stops being spiritual.
It stops being surrendered.
It stops being Christ‑centered.

The church is not a building.
It is not an organization.
It is not a denomination.

In Revelation, when Jesus speaks to "the church," He is speaking to His people — the believers living in a certain region, carrying a certain spiritual condition. 

And He says to Laodicea: "You are lukewarm… and I spit you out."

Why?
Because lukewarmness is the condition of a people who believe in Him but are not surrendered to Him.

A surrendered heart cannot help but love Jesus Himself.
The Holy Spirit pours that love into the believer. 

It is supernatural. 

It is unmistakable.

So how could anyone not want Jesus for Himself?

Because the church at large is not surrendered.

Many want: joy, peace, blessing, identity, comfort, inspiration, spiritual benefits,
…but not Christ Himself.

They want what He gives — but not who He is.
They want His gifts — but not His Lordship.
They want His comfort — but not His will.
They want His blessings — but not His surrender.

This is what Chambers warns us about today. He is asking: “Am I building up the Body of Christ, or am I only concerned about my own spiritual development?”

He is not saying personal growth is wrong. He is saying personal growth becomes distorted when it becomes self‑focused instead of Christ‑focused.

My relationship with Jesus is essential —
but not so I can gather spiritual comforts.

Not so I can feel peaceful.
Not so I can feel blessed.

My relationship with Jesus is essential because He is the goal.

Not joy. Not peace. Not blessing. Not spiritual identity.

Him.

Chambers ends with a line that pierces the heart:
My goal is God Himself, not joy nor peace, 

Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God.

This is the measure of the “fullness of Christ” — 

a church, a people, a believer 

who wants Jesus 

for Jesus.

Not for what He gives. 

Not for what He does. 

Not for what He fixes. 

Not for what He blesses.

Just Him.

And that is what July 12 is all about…
A surrendered people who want Christ Himself.

Breath Prayer

Jesus… You are my goal.

Selah,
Christ alone.
~ Quil

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Scripture References

Ephesians 4:13 — “The fullness of Christ.”

Philippians 3:10 — “That I may know Him.”
Revelation 3:15–16 — “Hot, cold, or lukewarm.”
Romans 5:5 — “The love of God poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.”
Colossians 1:18 — “Christ is the head of the body, the church.”
John 15:5 — “Without Me you can do nothing.”
2 Corinthians 5:18–19 — “God… has given us the ministry of reconciliation.”