Jim Elliot

My favorite quote from Jim Elliot, the missionary, who lost his life, while sharing Christ's love with the Auca Indians back in the 1950's, is this: "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." That is a great one, and has been an inspiration to many Christians over many decades. But, today, a friend of mine sent me another quote from Jim Elliot, and I just had to share it with you. Here it is:

"Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me."

Read it again, and think about it. It connected with me right away. I haven't heard this quote before. This is a great prayer. This is how I have applied it to my own heart. Because my personality tends to be laid back and I don't like to cause waves, most people who meet me don't feel like they have a decision to make. However, I have found that when I do challenge people, to get out of their comfort zones, to think biblically, to do the hard things, that there is quite a bit of opposition. This is my prayer: that I would be a person, who stands on God's Word, who fails, but keeps moving forward in Christ, and who challenges others to grow in their faith.

In doing so, by example and by exhortation, I want to be someone just like Jim Elliot prayed to be. I want to be a person that causes people to make a decision, one way or the other. I want to be used by God to challenge people, either to follow after God and His ways, regardless of the risks or costs; or to decide to remain comfortable, serving themselves, wasting their lives. May God give me the grace needed to be that man - no matter the outcome.