What We Were Made For. . .

The Holidays. Sometimes they make me just want to curl up in the fetal position (which is pretty hard these days) and hide from the world. All the hustle and bustle, the unruly holiday traffic (doesn't help that we live across the street from the biggest mall in the Southeast), and multiple "Christmas" gatherings (work parties-that are then somehow broken down into even smaller sub gatherings like "Grade Level meeting parties", "Curriculum parties", etc. ) This devotional below from Oswald Chambers was a great reminder that although I am often tempted in an anti-social, anxious, knee-jerk kind of way to simply hide in a cave (I'd settle on my closet), that we were meant for more. We were never created for isolation-and we will never truly become the child that God intended and desires us to be. Enjoy his words of truth and wisdom and may it encourage you as you rub shoulders with Tiny Tims, Bob Cratchits, and Ebenezer Scrouges this season! (which sadly is sometimes me!) 

Personality

Dec

12

2012

. . . that they may be one just as We are one . . . —John 17:22

"Personality is the unique, limitless part of our life that makes us distinct from everyone else. It is too vast for us even to comprehend. An island in the sea may be just the top of a large mountain, and our personality is like that island. We don’t know the great depths of our being, therefore we cannot measure ourselves. We start out thinking we can, but soon realize that there is really only one Being who fully understands us, and that is our Creator.

Personality is the characteristic mark of the inner, spiritual man, just as individuality is the characteristic of the outer, natural man. Our Lord can never be described in terms of individuality and independence, but only in terms of His total Person— “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30). Personality merges, and you only reach your true identity once you are merged with another person. When love or the Spirit of God come upon a person, he is transformed. He will then no longer insist on maintaining his individuality. Our Lord never referred to a person’s individuality or his isolated position, but spoke in terms of the total person— “. . . that they may be one just as We are one . . . .” Once your rights to yourself are surrendered to God, your true personal nature begins responding to God immediately. Jesus Christ brings freedom to your total person, and even your individuality is transformed. The transformation is brought about by love— personal devotion to Jesus. Love is the overflowing result of one person in true fellowship with another." 

-Oswald Chambers