Team Talk
Oswald Chambers
“Shut out every other consideration and keep yourself before God for this one thing only—My
Utmost for His Highest. I am determined to be absolutely and entirely for Him and for Him alone.”
OSWALD CHAMBERS
Oswald Chambers was a prominent early twentieth century Scottish Protestant Christian minister and
teacher, best known as the author of the widely-read devotional My Utmost for His Highest.
Chambers was born 24 July 1874 in Aberdeen, Scotland to devout Baptist parents. He accepted Christ in his
teen years. While walking home from a service conducted by Charles Spurgeon, he mentioned to his father
that, had there been an opportunity, he would have become a Christian. Chambers developed quickly in his
faith, but did not plan to go into ministry.
He studied at Kensington Art School and attended the University of Edinburgh, where he studied fine art
and archaeology. But while at Edinburgh, he felt called to ministry, and transferred to Dunoon College. An
unusually gifted student, Chambers soon started teaching classes and started a local society dedicated to
Robert Browning, his favourite poet. But during this time, Chambers did not find satisfaction in Christianity,
finding the Bible ‘dull’ and uninspiring.
Finally, after four years of spiritual dryness, Chambers realized that he couldn't force himself to be holy.
Once he realized that the strength and peace he was looking for was Christ himself, Christ's life in exchange
for his sin, he experienced great renewal so much so that he described it as a “radiant, unspeakable
emancipation.”
With new-found strength, Chambers travelled the world, stopping in Egypt, Japan, and America. It was on
one of his trips to America that he met Gertrude Hobbs.
In 1910 he was married to Hobbs, whom he affectionately called "Biddy". On 24 May 1913 Biddy gave birth
to their only daughter, Kathleen.
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