A much needed corrective for the Joel Osteens of the world, and their misguided followers. (And, if I’m honest, for me as well.)

“He that believes in Me…out of him shall flow….” (John 7:38)

Jesus did not say — “he that believes in Me shall realize the blessing of the fullness of God,” but — “he that believes in Me, out of him shall escape everything he receives.” Our Lord’s teaching is always anti-self-realization. His purpose is not the development of a person; His purpose is to make a person exactly like Himself, and the characteristic of the Son of God is self-expenditure. If we believe in Jesus, it is not what we gain, but what He pours through us that counts. God’s purpose is not to simply make us beautiful, plump grapes, but to make us grapes so that He may squeeze the sweetness out of us. Our spiritual life cannot be measured by success as the world measures it, but only by what God pours through us, and we cannot measure that at all…

“He that believes in Me, out of him shall flow rivers of living water” — hundreds of other lives will be continually refreshed. Now is the time to stop seeking our own satisfaction, and to pour out our lives before Him. Our Lord is asking who of us will do it for Him?

(Oswald Chambers – My Utmost for His Highest)