My Utmost for His Highest

by Oswald Chambers (Auteur)

Paperback, 2017

Status

Available

Call number

242.2

Publication

Our Daily Bread Publishing (2017), Edition: Updated, 416 pages

Description

Looking for a daily devotional to challenge both heart and mind? Try the classic My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers, in a great new vest pocket size. For nearly seventy-five years, countless millions of Christians the world over have trusted the spiritual companionship of Oswald Chambers's classic daily devotional. These brief scripture-based readings--by turns comforting and challenging--will draw you into God's presence and form you as a disciple of the Risen Lord. You'll treasure their insight, still fresh and vital. And you'll discover what it means to offer God your very best for His greatest purpose--to truly offer Him your utmost for His highest.    

User reviews

LibraryThing member sacredstacks
My Utmost for His Highest is a collection of lectures Oswald Chambers delivered during the daily devotional hour at the Bible Training College at Clapham, from 1911 through 1917. They were compiled after his death by his wife, Gertrude Hobbs (“Biddy”), who used her language skills to later
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publish his manuscripts as well as her notes of his lectures, sermons, and talks. Bro. Chambers’ life spanned the years 1874 through 1917.

The Foreward [sic] to this edition bears the initials of Sis. Chambers, “B.C.” for “Biddy Chambers.” In the last paragraph she states: “It is because it is felt that the author is one to whose teaching men will return, that this book has been prepared, and it is sent out with the prayer that day by day the messages may continue to bring the quickening life and inspiration of the Holy Spirit.”

Even though the scriptures in this edition are taken from the NIV, Bro. Chambers’ language remains unedited and is more consistent with the reverential tone of the KJV. Simply put, I prefer the “meat” of Bro. Chambers’ lectures over the “milk” offered in many of today’s contemporary works. In today’s lecture (January 5), his teaching is based on John 13:36; and he ends with: “All our vows and resolutions end in denial because we have no power to carry them out. When we have come to the end of ourselves, not in imagination but really, we are able to receive the Holy Spirit.”

This edition comes in Navy genuine bonded leather; and includes two indexes. The Index of Subjects lists every conceivable concern with corresponding page numbers. For example, teachings concerning The Blood of Jesus can be found in four different daily entries on pages 90, 248, 255, and 268; Forgiveness in two entries on pages 240-2 and 294-5; and Worship in three entries on pages 4-5, 64, and 187. The second index, the Index of Biblical References, lists entries according to the passages on which they’re based, from Genesis to Revelation.

I am among the many who have looked to these messages during morning devotional time for several years now. I’ve been blessed countless times with the “quickening life and inspiration of the Holy Spirit" that Sis. Chambers prayed they would bring. From the many reviews and testimonies I have read regarding this work, I am convinced that others have experienced the same.

I urge any reader who has not read this book to try it for 30 days. The daily passage takes less than five minutes to read; but equips you with a point of focus for the day’s journey.

(1984, 278 Pages)
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LibraryThing member That_Looney_Lady
My favorite daily devotional
LibraryThing member aethercowboy
My Utmost for His Highest is a devotional book. This means that each day has a small, easy-to-digest piece of theology attached to it. I’ve read many of these before, hardly ever in the way they’re intended (instead, I barrel through, doing months in a single day). While this may alter the
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outcome of what I get from the volume, I find this a more efficient way of reading many books in less time.

Nevertheless, I found some of Chambers’ points to be atypical of what I expected to see in a devotional. Many times he emphasized making disciples of men versus getting people to believe what you believe. I for one found this to be a breath of fresh air (albeit, one that is about 100 years old) among all the books and materials that are about converting to believe what you believe down to the last letter. I agree with Chambers in this light, as with Christianity, there is so much that is left to interpretation that is not vital for being a Christian. If there was some subtle nuance to getting Christianity “right,” it would devalue the importance of Jesus and make Christianity more akin to the card game Mao than the straightforward walk it is.

While I’m not a fan of devotionals (for the reason stated above), I did think that Chambers had some pretty good ideas that I think today’s Christian may find useful.
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LibraryThing member BethanyBible
My Utmost for His Highest contains 365 daily readings that take heady doctrine and make it practical, realistic, and intensely personal. With humor and humility, Chambers speaks plainly to the common man struggling with devotion to Christ in daily living. Worldly cares and self-serving desires
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begin to lose their appeal as Chambers aides the reader in transforming his mind by viewing life through the instruction of God's Word.
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LibraryThing member fredjryder1946
Oswald Chambers was gifted with extracting the essence of biblical principles and condensing them into potent, thought-provoking, and life-changing devotions. They don't take a lot of time to read, but they can infuse you with the timeless truths of the Bible.

In this edition of My Utmost for His
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Highest, you get updated-language daily devotionals that have become an enduring favorite because Oswald Chambers used his spiritual gifts so wisely and generously.

Compiled from lectures given at the Bible Training College in London, to nightly talks in an Egyptian YMCA during World War I, My Utmost for His Highest will lend a powerful spiritual dimension to your walk with God.
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LibraryThing member sweetpeaseb
Amazing book! It has such deep devotionals. I love it!
LibraryThing member Beukeboom
A very good and thoughtful Christian daily devotional.
LibraryThing member seoulful
Daily readings gathered and edited by Oswald Chamber's wife from lectures and sermonettes he gave to students at the Bible Training College in Clapham, England and to soldiers stationed in Egypt during WWI. A man of unusual spiritual depth, each entry in this book speaks of a man who has gained his
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knowledge through the difficult door of renunciation to self. One pearl from Chambers, "If I am devoted to the cause of humanity only, I will soon be exhausted and come to the place where my love will falter; but if I love Jesus Christ personally and passionately, I can serve humanity though men treat me as a door-mat."
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LibraryThing member nesum
Still the best, I think. I've never known anyone else who can put such depth and meaning into 300 words every day like Chambers does in this book. He doesn't just deliver a warm mushy feeling like so many devotionals, but convinces you that Jesus is someone to be trusted, obeyed, and sought with
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all your heart. A wonderful, year-long journey that I recommend to pretty much anyone.
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LibraryThing member fumc-cdale
One of the most famous devotional books in the world-several millions in print
LibraryThing member ZechariahStover
My Utmost for His Highest is my favorite devotional. Each day’s reading is short enough that it is easy to make the time to read. He is hard hitting in applying God’s Word to our daily lives.
LibraryThing member sherribrari
One of the most important devotional books I've ever read.
LibraryThing member GwG
The greatest devotional ever written. Unless of course you like another one more than this one.
LibraryThing member wktarin
The best devotional book. Ever.
LibraryThing member justagirlwithabook
This book is part of my collection that really focuses in on Biblical Commentary more than anything else (including some well known authors in the theological world). All of these books haven't been read cover to cover, but I've spent a lot of time with them and they've been helpful in guiding me
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through difficult passages (or if I desire to dig deeper).
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LibraryThing member MarieFriesen
This edition of Oswald Chambers' golden book combines all of the features of the updated language edition with the enduring quality of genuine leather. This bestselling devotional includes complete subject and Scripture indexes along with 366 timeless, inspirational devotions in a classic but
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affordable burgundy leather binding. Ideal for both the Chambers devotee and for gift-giving.
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LibraryThing member deusvitae
Works which reach the status of “classics” in the canon of literature generally do so for good reasons; they stand the test of time and have something compelling about them. And so it is for Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost for His Highest.

One can find this devotional in almost any format; this one
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(galley received as part of early review program) is published as a hardcover by Our Daily Bread and is intended to serve as a gift edition.

Oswald Chambers was a child of the fin de siècle who was raised a Scottish Baptist but joined the Holiness movement and participated in early Pentecostalism. He died while ministering to soldiers during World War I. Most of his works, including My Utmost for His Highest, were based on the transcription of notes his widow had taken during his messages at the Bible Training College he had founded. The original version was formatted for 366 devotionals; this edition was modified to cover them in 90 days.

Most devotional works these days attempt to somehow replicate Chambers in some way or another, and most fall short. He is not prepossessing; he does not wade into anything remotely controversial; and yet the substance of his messages remain profound. It truly is all about devoting oneself to God and His purposes and turning away from the impulses of self and the world.

It is best to take one’s time with a devotional such as this and meditate on each one. Highly recommended.
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Language

Original publication date

1927

Physical description

416 p.; 7 inches

ISBN

1627078797 / 9781627078795
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