Sacred Sobriety: A Path for the Soul: The Compelling Force of the Call

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Oswald Chambers Devotional Reflection | 1 Corinthians 9:16

“For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe to me if I do not preach the gospel.” – 1 Corinthians 9:16 (NASB1995)

Have you been called to preach the gospel as a disciple of Jesus Christ? If you have, beware of turning a deaf ear. The call to discipleship is a special kind of call. Everyone who is saved is called to testify to their salvation, but there is nothing easier than being saved. Salvation is God’s sovereign work; all we have to do is turn to him. “Turn to me and be saved” (Isaiah 45:22). Our Lord never says that the conditions of discipleship are the same as the conditions of salvation. We are condemned to salvation through the cross of Jesus Christ, but discipleship has an option with it: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

To become a disciple is to be made broken bread and poured-out wine in Jesus’s hands; it is to experience the pain of being constrained. In 1 Corinthians 9:16, Paul describes the distress that would seize him if he tried to break free. Having accepted the conditions of discipleship, he is now “set apart for the gospel,” entirely kept and bound for God (Romans 1:1).

To lead a set-apart life is to suffer agonies worthy of the name disciple. Every personal ambition is nipped in the bud; every personal desire is erased; every perspective apart from God’s is blotted out. Discipleship is not for everyone. But if you have felt God grip you for it, beware: woe to the soul who puts a foot in any other direction once the call has come.

The Call That Leaves No Options

There is a compelling force of God's call upon those who have chosen to walk the path of discipleship. It is a strong pull where a person feels impossible to break from. Have you personally felt such a pull? The Apostle Paul knew this pull where his preaching of the Gospel was not a career choice, a personal ministry preference, or a passionate endeavor. It had become a driving force with divine obligation. One that came with a dire warning: "Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel" (1 Corinthians 9:16).

Today's devotional is from Oswald Chambers - My Utmost for His Highest - where we are reminded of the distinction between salvation and discipleship. Salvation is God's gift of mercy and grace - "Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other" (Isaiah 45:22). However, discipleship is costly and requires full surrender - "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23).

The Cost of Answering the Call

According to Romans 1:1, the Apostle Paul considered himself "a bondservant of Christ, Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God." He was consecrated for God's will and purpose. Any personal dreams, ambitions, or comforts were all given up - forsaken - to follow Christ. A standard the Savior has established:

"No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9:62).
"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:26).

Discipleship demands everything - it is not an optional extra in the Christian life, nor a path reserved for a select few. Any person whom God has called may find themselves constrained by His will and purpose. Unable to turn back without severe spiritual consequences.

For those of us in recovery and living in sobriety - the call comes to relinquishing all that we have carried with us. Forsaking all that has wounded us, has brought us to a place of brokenness, and has consumed us unto despair and destruction. The process of recovery is a path of discipleship where healing and restoration is not a mere option for us. It is the beating heart of repentance and forgiveness.

The Agony of Being Set Apart

True discipleship, and the path of recovery, is to be broken bread and poured-out wine in the hands of Christ. Oswald Chambers points out that this call leads to suffering, personal loss, and deep refining. Those who embrace it will find unshakable purpose.

Paul reminds us of this when writing to the Corinthian Church:

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our body" (2 Corinthians 4:7-10).

Discipleship is not about self-fulfillment. It is about self-sacrifice. Every selfish ambition is pruned, every worldly desire is burned away, and every human perspective is replaced with God's eternal vision to bring about redemption and salvation of humanity.

Personal Reflection: Have You Answered the Call?

As we consider the words of Oswald Chambers, let's take some time to reflect on the following: Have you personally answered the Call?

Do you feel the weight of God's call upon your own life?

Like Paul, are you under the compulsion, where you are not able to ignore the burden of sharing your story and testimony of what Christ has done for you and in your own personal life?
Has God set you apart for a unique purpose that demands total surrender to His will and desire for your own life?

Are you willing to lay aside any personal desires for His mission?

Jesus said, "whoever loses his life for my sake shall find it" (Matthew 10:39).
Have you truly surrendered your life, or are you holding onto personal ambitions and desires?

Have you counted the cost of discipleship?

The call to follow Christ is not without suffering, yet the eternal reward far outweighs the cost.
Are you prepared to walk this narrow path?

Take sometime today to meditate and pray - seeking the Lord regarding the call on your life and your personal willingness to submit over to His care and will for you.

A Prayer of Surrender

"Lord, I hear Your call, and I surrender. I recognize that discipleship is costly, but I know you are worthy of my all. Make me broken bread and poured-out wine for Your kingdom. Let Your will be done in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen."

Final Thoughts

The call to discipleship is not for the faint-hearted, but for those whom God has gripped, turning back is not an option. If you feel that compelling force within your soul, do not resist it. Step forward in faith, and trust that God’s grace will sustain you through every trial.

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