Receive to Ship

In My Utmost for His Highest on April 27, Oswald Chambers says, “God wants you in a closer relationship to Himself than receiving His gifts, He wants you to get to know Him.” I’m reminded of the passage in Philippians 3:7-14 where Paul asks, “that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering, being conformed to His death.”

Have you ever been misunderstood? I often make statements others hear differently than I intended. Once, I told a friend I hoped to pursue a greater challenge with my life. My friend heard me wanting to pursue a grandiose outcome for my glory. I didn’t think I had considered a glorious outcome, but a noble pursuit. Did my friend hear my intentions better than I understood them myself? Was his warning God cautioning me to avoid pursuit of glory for myself? Possibly.

God gives us things so we can give them away. Our call is to live as a sacrifice (Romans 12:1). We are not our own. Because of my experience in the warehousing industry, I think of myself as a grace distributor. Jesus ships things to my warehouse and I store them for Him but only for a short while. He will soon instruct me where to ship those goods. The inventory can be goods, energy, encouragement, or the fruit of the spirit, love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control. Whatever they are, they’re not mine, they’re His. The goal isn’t to store more of His stuff. My goal is to ship the grace entrusted to me wherever the Owner instructs. I want to turn the inventory as much and as often as Jesus requests.

The receiving and shipping of “things” is how we get to know God. Chambers goes on to ask, “Are you prepared to ask yourself what it is you want from God, and why you want it?” Am I able to ask God to show me why I want the things I’m asking Him for?

Lord, may I want the outcomes You want. Please may I remember you’ve called me to ship? Challenge me to ship everything you give me and use it to bless others and make you known. Help me know you, your power and your fellowship. And make me a living sacrifice. Thank You.

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