Reconciling Yourself to the Fact of Sin

Recently I picked up my copy of My Utmost for His Highest and yesterday I what I read was so profound and eye-opening to me, I wanted to share it with you all.

I love O. Chamber's style of writing, and it's been amazing to me how many days I have picked up his book, and read something that applied almost directly to what I was thinking about and working through that day!  It's definitely my favorite devotional that I've ever read, and if you've never had the chance to read it, I would strongly recommend it!

This is your hour, and the power of darkness —Luke 22:53

"Not being reconciled to the fact of sin— not recognizing it and refusing to deal with it— produces all the disasters in life. You may talk about the lofty virtues of human nature, but there is something in human nature that will mockingly laugh in the face of every principle you have. If you refuse to agree with the fact that there is wickedness and selfishness, something downright hateful and wrong, in human beings, when it attacks your life, instead of reconciling yourself to it, you will compromise with it and say that it is of no use to battle against it. Have you taken this “hour, and the power of darkness” into account, or do you have a view of yourself which includes no recognition of sin whatsoever? In your human relationships and friendships, have you reconciled yourself to the fact of sin? If not, just around the next corner you will find yourself trapped and you will compromise with it. But if you will reconcile yourself to the fact of sin, you will realize the danger immediately and say, “Yes, I see what this sin would mean.” The recognition of sin does not destroy the basis of friendship— it simply establishes a mutual respect for the fact that the basis of sinful life is disastrous. Always beware of any assessment of life which does not recognize the fact that there is sin.

Jesus Christ never trusted human nature, yet He was never cynical nor suspicious, because He had absolute trust in what He could do for human nature. The pure man or woman is the one who is shielded from harm, not the innocent person. The so-called innocent man or woman is never safe. Men and women have no business trying to be innocent; God demands that they be pure and virtuous. Innocence is the characteristic of a child. Any person is deserving of blame if he is unwilling to reconcile himself to the fact of sin."

Oswald Chambers

An Accomplished Woman

I've been immersing myself recently in the world of Elizabeth and Darcy, in Pride and Prejudice. Every once in a while, I get a hankering to go back and return to Netherfield and Longbourn and Pemberly. In my reading, I came across this part, which I wanted to share with you all, in spite of the fact that most of you have probably read the book at least once yourselves! :)

"Your list of the common extent of accomplishments," said Darcy, "has too much truth. The word is applied to many a woman who deserves it no otherwise than by netting a purse or covering a screen. But I am very far from agreeing with you in your estimation of ladies in general. I cannot boast of knowing more than half-a-dozen, in the whole range of my acquaintance, that are really accomplished."


"Nor I, I am sure," said Miss Bingley.


"Then," observed Elizabeth, "you must comprehend a great deal in your idea of an accomplished woman."


"Yes, I do comprehend a great deal in it."


"Oh! certainly," cried his faithful assistant, "no one can be really esteemed accomplished who does not greatly surpass what is usually met with. A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the word will be but half-deserved."


"All this she must possess," added Darcy, "and to all this she must yet add something more substantial, in the improvement of her mind by extensive reading."

I have to admit, the last sentence especially rings true with me! Reading to improve the mind rather than just to entertain it is so important! I would wax eloquent on the subject, but I hear a little voice in the bedroom wanting me to come, so until next time!!