No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24
Christ’s true victories are not made in moments of revival, but when my will is in the ascendancy.
It is an easy business to make decisions for Christ in a camp meeting. Everything is in my favor. The revival tide is high; it is easy to float over on the Lord’s side. But His mighty, tremendous triumphs are made after the revival–when I am in the ascendancy, when Christ stands on one side of an issue and my will on the other. Then I have to choose whom I have to serve. Then is the time when the true decision is made.
During a revival, the Holy Spirit can sway the whole church with its presence. The atmosphere is marvelous. People are rejoicing. But only one-tenth of them ever victoriously serve Christ.
Prayer Thought: I resolve to follow Christ, regardless of the price of sacrifice.
Oswald Chambers in Devotions for a Deeper Life (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1986) 214-215.