Unforgettable

Beware of isolation; beware of the idea that you have to develop a holy life alone. It is impossible to develop a holy life alone; you will develop into an oddity and a peculiarism, into something utterly unlike what God wants you to be. The only way to develop spiritually is to go into the society of God’s own children, and you will soon find how God alters your set. God does not contradict our social instincts; He alters them. -- Oswald Chambers in Biblical Psychology, 189 L

I read that quote a few moments ago, finding it at the bottom of tomorrow's My Utmost for His Highest. It was meaningful to me particularly tonight because God is continually encouraging me to grow and maintain meaningful relationships with others, using whatever means are available to do that.

Tomorrow, for example, Toni and I are looking forward to seeing a dear friend from our days serving the Lutheran church in Taylors Falls. I wish her husband could come too, but we'll need to wait for that since he's busy tomorrow.

I believe relationships are precious to the Lord and He desires that we renew and expand them as we're able, instead of just letting people go. The Apostle Paul often speaks of his yearning to reconnect with the men and women who have served with him in various places, and I feel the same.

On the radio these days I've heard the song "Unforgettable" by Natalie Cole (who just passed away) and her late father Nat King Cole. (See video below or at this link.) It's not a spiritual song, but it does speak to the longing not unlike that which God places in our hearts for those who have been companions on the journey with Jesus.

It's not good for us to think that we can just leave people out of our walk with God. Let's use whatever methods are available to stay in touch, and, when possible, meet personally. Let's share prayer and love across the distance until we can do that.

Peace to you my brothers and sisters, and Happy New Year!

God bless you in every way.

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In the quote from Biblical Psychology above, Oswald Chambers, who served as a Christian educator in Scotland, speaks of God altering "your set." A "set" in British education is a group of students that are set apart by their various abilities. 

from 2012 UK Dept. of Ed.article found <here> in Jan. 2016

I think O.C. is saying that as we spend time with other Christian believers that God will bring us into a higher level of spiritual growth and training, with others who may be more advanced than we are now. (When I was in elementary school I remember we had various reading and math groups. It always felt good to be brought up to a higher level group.)

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