“Jesus took … them up a high mountain to be alone.” (Mark 9:2, NLT)
“We have all experienced times of exultation on the mountain, when we have seen things from God’s perspective and have wanted to stay there. But God will never allow us to stay there …
We are inclined to think that everything that happens is to be turned into useful teaching. In actual fact, it is to be turned into something better than teaching, character. The mountaintop is not meant to teach us anything, it is meant to make us into something. There is a terrible trap in always asking, “What’s the use of this experience?” We can never measure spiritual matters in that way. The moments on the mountaintop are rare moments, and they are meant for something in God’s purpose.”
(Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest, October 1)
Today I am joining … Scripture & a Snapshot and Sunday Scripture Blessings and Selah .
Pondering this distinction between teaching us and making us. Thank you, Joanne.
I guess the making is in the teaching even in the human minded world. A good example like a mountain top experience pushes us in the right directions to counteract the not so mountain top experience. I don’t know, just my take. We are alone in the mountain top as the scripture says, and it is hard to explain those moments because it is for our learning process perhaps?
Hmmm….I never thought of it like that before. I suppose it’s like molding clay or firing silver or pruning.
I love these weekly treasures from Oswald Chambers.
No matter how many times I have gone through My Highest (I rotate yearly devotional books), there is always more to be gleaned.
I like that thought–that some experienced don’t actually teach anything outright, but they help form our character or do something within us. There are some experiences that totally don’t make sense and are hard to glean a “lesson” from. But God still uses them in our lives.
Barbara, I so agree. God does not waste any experiences but uses them in some way in our lives.
I have been thinking a lot about character recently. I love Chambers’ thoughts on the subject.
Laurie, I think these days we are living in have caused many of us to think about character. May we let Him do the work in us that is needed.
I’ve found that the mountaintops are where I’m refreshed and renewed, and made ready to go back to the world with an adjusted attitude.
Amen, Kym! I love what you have shared!