--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our work is not to save souls, but to…" description: "\"Our work is not to save souls, but to disciple them. Salvation and sanctification are the work of God's sovereign grace, and our work as His disciples ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bc/oswald-chambers-205_awakened_our-work-is-not-to-save-souls-but-to-dis_1307838.jpg" --- # Our work is not to save souls, but to disciple them… ![“Our work is not to save souls, but to disciple them. Salvation and sanctification are the work of God's sovereign grace, and our work as His disciples is to disciple others' lives until they are totally yielded to God. One life totally devoted to God is of more value to Him than one hundred lives…” quote by Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bc/oswald-chambers-205_awakened_our-work-is-not-to-save-souls-but-to-dis_1307838.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bc/oswald-chambers-205_awakened_our-work-is-not-to-save-souls-but-to-dis_1307838.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bc/oswald-chambers-205_awakened_our-work-is-not-to-save-souls-but-to-dis_1307838.jpg) > “Our work is not to save souls, but to disciple them. Salvation and sanctification are the work of God's sovereign grace, and our work as His disciples is to disciple others' lives until they are totally yielded to God. One life totally devoted to God is of more value to Him than one hundred lives which have been simply awakened by His Spirit. As workers for God, we must reproduce our own kind spiritually, and those lives will be God's testimony to us as His workers. God brings us up to a standard of life through His grace, and we are responsible for reproducing that same standard in others.” [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Discipleship is the primary mission; true devotion to God outweighs mere spiritual awakening. **In simple terms:** Discipleship, not just salvation, is the goal. Key Takeaway Focus on guiding others toward full surrender. Themes faith discipleship spiritual growth responsibility Mood reflective serious Type religious inspirational When to use this quote - church leadership - mentoring - personal spiritual practice Key Concepts theology Christian ethics Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to disciple responsibly? - How do you balance personal devotion with guiding others? A Different Perspective Discipleship can be demanding and may cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Awakened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awakened/) [Devoted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devoted/) [Disciple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disciple/) [Disciple Salvation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disciple-salvation-4316468/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Hundred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hundred/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Reproducing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reproducing/) [Responsible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsible/) [Salvation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/salvation/) [Salvation Sanctification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/salvation-sanctification-3604073/) [Sanctification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctification/) [Sanctification Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctification-work-1666935/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Sovereign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sovereign/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/) [Testimony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/testimony/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [Work Disciples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-disciples-4316469/) [Workers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/workers/) ## Related quotes > [“Salvation is sanctification of soul by the Blessed Saviour.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/salvation-is-sanctification-of-soul-by-the-blessed-saviour/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Sanctification is not a work of nature, but a work of grace. It is a transformation of character effected not by moral influences, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hodge/sanctification-is-not-a-work-of-nature-but-a-work-of-grace-it-is-a/) [Charles Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hodge/) > [“What is sanctification? Sanctification is the work of God's free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/westminster-assembly/what-is-sanctification-sanctification-is-the-work-of-god-s-free-grace/) [Westminster Assembly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/westminster-assembly/) > [Sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit in us whereby our inner being is progressively changed, freeing us more and more from sinful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/sanctification-is-the-work-of-the-holy-spirit-in-us-whereby-our-inner/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [Prayer is the practice of drawing on the grace of God. Don't say, "I will endure this until I can get away and pray."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/prayer-is-the-practice-of-drawing-on-the-grace-of-god-don-t-say-i/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Sanctification means being made one with Jesus so that the disposition that ruled Him will rule us. It will cost everything that is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/sanctification-means-being-made-one-with-jesus-so-that-the/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [God works this unspeakable mystery of entire sanctification in your life and mine. People try to seek the experience of entire sanctification in ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/god-works-this-unspeakable-mystery-of-entire-sanctification-in-your/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Sanctification means the impartation of the Holy qualities of Jesus Christ. It is His patience, His love, His holiness, His faith, His purity, His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/sanctification-means-the-impartation-of-the-holy-qualities-of-jesus/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Sanctification means more than being freed from sin. It means the deliberate commitment of myself to the God of my salvation, and being willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/sanctification-means-more-than-being-freed-from-sin-it-means-the/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Am I prepared to let God grip me by His power and do a work in me that is worthy of Himself? Sanctification is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/am-i-prepared-to-let-god-grip-me-by-his-power-and-do-a-work-in-me/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“Consecration would soon be changed into sanctification if we would only concentrate on what God wants.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/consecration-would-soon-be-changed-into-sanctification-if-we-would/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Sanctification is not my idea of what I want God to do for me; sanctification is God’s idea of what He wants to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/sanctification-is-not-my-idea-of-what-i-want-god-to-do-for-me/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Sanctification costs to the extent of "an intense narrowing of all our interests on earth and an immense broadening of all our interests in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/sanctification-costs-to-the-extent-of-an-intense-narrowing-of-all-our/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [What are all of us but self-reproducing robots? We have been put together by our genes and what we do is roam the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/what-are-all-of-us-but-self-reproducing-robots-we-have-been-put/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“You are actually reproducing yourself when you invest your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/you-are-actually-reproducing-yourself-when-you-invest-your-life/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) ## More by Oswald Chambers > [“If we deliberately choose to obey God, then He will tax the remotest star and the last grain of sand to assist us with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/if-we-deliberately-choose-to-obey-god-then-he-will-tax-the-remotest/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Realize that the Lord is here now, and the freedom you receive is immediate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/realize-that-the-lord-is-here-now-and-the-freedom-you-receive-is/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [You will never cease to be the most amazed person on earth at what God has done for you on the inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/you-will-never-cease-to-be-the-most-amazed-person-on-earth-at-what/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [When Jesus Christ shed his blood on the cross, it was not the blood of a martyr; or the blood of one man for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/when-jesus-christ-shed-his-blood-on-the-cross-it-was-not-the-blood-of/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Sorrow burns up a great amount of shallowness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/sorrow-burns-up-a-great-amount-of-shallowness/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“Let circumstances take you where they will, but keep drawing on the grace of God in whatever condition you may find yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/let-circumstances-take-you-where-they-will-but-keep-drawing-on-the/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The goal of faithfulness is not that we will do work for God, but that He will be free to do His work through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-goal-of-faithfulness-is-not-that-we-will-do-work-for-god-but-that/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [We are in danger of forgetting that we cannot do what God does, and that God will not do what we can do. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-are-in-danger-of-forgetting-that-we-cannot-do-what-god-does-and/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“It is a solemn thing, and no small scandal in the Kingdom, to see God's children starving while actually seated at the Father's table.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/it-is-a-solemn-thing-and-no-small-scandal-in-the-kingdom-to-see-god-s/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“If my holiness is not drawing towards Him, it is not holiness of the right order, but an influence that will awaken inordinate affection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/if-my-holiness-is-not-drawing-towards-him-it-is-not-holiness-of-the/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“My spiritual history must have as its underlying foundation a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ. To be born again means that I see Jesus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/my-spiritual-history-must-have-as-its-underlying-foundation-a/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [We always have visions, before a thing is made real. When we realize that although the vision is real, it is not real in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-always-have-visions-before-a-thing-is-made-real-when-we-realize/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The lasting value of our public service for God is measured by the depth of the intimacy of our private times of fellowship and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-lasting-value-of-our-public-service-for-god-is-measured-by-the/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The thing that awakens the deepest fountain of gratitude in a human being is that God has forgiven his sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-thing-that-awakens-the-deepest-fountain-of-gratitude-in-a-human/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The secret of the missionary is...I am His, and He is carrying out His work through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-secret-of-the-missionary-is-i-am-his-and-he-is-carrying-out-his/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) [Explore all 922 Oswald Chambers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) ## More Awakened quotes > [An enlightened awareness is within each one of us, right at this moment. This enlightened awareness is truly unborn and marvellously illuminating; and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bankei-yotaku/an-enlightened-awareness-is-within-each-one-of-us-right-at-this/) [Bankei Yotaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bankei-yotaku/) > [If your heart isn't yet illumined Be awake always, be a seeker of the heart, Be at war continually with your carnal soul. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/if-your-heart-isn-t-yet-illumined-be-awake-always-be-a-seeker-of-the/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [There’s been a problem, a problem eating away at me from the inside out. I’ve become weak, I’ve shown human compassion, and it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane/there-s-been-a-problem-a-problem-eating-away-at-me-from-the-inside/) [Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane/) > [Although all men are born free, slavery has been the general lot of the human race. Ignorant--they have been cheated; asleep--they have been surprised;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/although-all-men-are-born-free-slavery-has-been-the-general-lot-of/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION is a manual and a call to action for awakened patriots who are too intelligent to believe the leftist media lies and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-palin/righteous-indignation-is-a-manual-and-a-call-to-action-for-awakened/) [Sarah Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-palin/) > [Don Quixote followed nature, and being satisfied with his first sleep, did not solicit more. As for Sancho, he never wanted a second, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/don-quixote-followed-nature-and-being-satisfied-with-his-first-sleep/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [When I write about "realizations," I am describing a state in which a practitioner has wisdom of who she or he is, and has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-targ/when-i-write-about-realizations-i-am-describing-a-state-in-which-a/) [Russell Targ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-targ/) > [To live a present and awakened life, simply be responsive to the moment. It is very simple. If you are hungry, eat. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-jacobson/to-live-a-present-and-awakened-life-simply-be-responsive-to-the/) [Leonard Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-jacobson/) > [I believe that it is truly important for everyone to confront in dialogue the historical reality of the Reformation, its consequences and the responses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-believe-that-it-is-truly-important-for-everyone-to-confront-in/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“The truth is: while it may have been rough getting here, I’ve awakened to a dream. The most incredible man in the world came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dawn/the-truth-is-while-it-may-have-been-rough-getting-here-i-ve-awakened/) [Tessa Dawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dawn/) > [In our true blissful essence of mind is known that everything is alright forever and forever and forever...listen to the silence inside the illusion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/in-our-true-blissful-essence-of-mind-is-known-that-everything-is/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [At certain times, a silent mind is very important, but 'silent' does not mean closed. The silent mind is an alert, awakened mind; a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thubten-yeshe/at-certain-times-a-silent-mind-is-very-important-but-silent-does-not/) [Thubten Yeshe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thubten-yeshe/) > [In Buddhism, there are three gems: Buddha, the awakened one; Dharma, the way of understanding and loving; and Sangha, the community that lives in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/in-buddhism-there-are-three-gems-buddha-the-awakened-one-dharma-the/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [What portion in the world can the artist have, Who has awakened from the common dream, But dissipation and despair?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/what-portion-in-the-world-can-the-artist-have-who-has-awakened-from/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [The living word awakened my soul, gave it light, hope, joy, set it free!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/the-living-word-awakened-my-soul-gave-it-light-hope-joy-set-it-free/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) [Browse all 330 Awakened quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awakened/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our work is not to save souls, but to disciple them. 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