I have said in the past that I believe God has a purpose for this trial in my life. If I expect to share in Christ's reward, I must share in His suffering as well.
I wish there were some way I could contact Mrs. Elliot to let her know how encouraging her experiences have been to me, and I trust to those of you who are reading this as well.
Elizabeth Elliot writes of Amy Charmichael, "She learned to accept suffering, even to accept it with joy, and dying to her own natural reticence, 'held herself no longer for her own keeping, but only as something to be shared.' Her deaths, 'of so many kinds, have resulted in life, for me and for many thousands." (I will say the same for Elizabeth Elliot!)
"Continually, while still alive, we are being surrendered into the hands of death, for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be revealed in this mortal body of ours. Thus death is at work in us, and life in you." (2 Cor. 4:11-12)
All who bring souls to God and multiply His kingdom must do so through surrender and sacrifice. This is what loving God means, a continual offering, a pure readiness to give oneself away, a happy obedience. There is no question of, 'But what about me?' for the motivation is love. All interests, all impulses, all energies are subjugated to that supreme passion."
However, "There are so many forms of self to cling to--an insistence on my own judgment; confident in my own resources; an unconscious taking of my own way without even considering others; reluctance to hear a viewpoint opposed to my own; attempts to bring conversation around to my interests. If we ask the Lord to show our our selfishness, He will do it--gently, one thing at a time, with help to face and renounce it. But it must sometimes be hard. Our loving Savior understands that perfectly. It is against nature. The cross cuts deep.
Christ understands these temptations. "He has known them all, but he triumphed. 'I cannot act by myself,' He said. I judge as I am bidden, and my sentence is just, because my aim is not my own will, but the will of Him who sent me.' (Jn. 5:30)"
2 comments:
My dear sweet sister friend, how you continue to amaze and convict me with your writing. I just can't express how you touch me with your own thoughts and shared writings of others. You are one in a million, my friend, and I thank our Heavenly Father for bringing our lives together so many years ago. I praise Him also for the work He is doing in all our lives as we pray with you for your healing.
Thank you for sharing your journey with us, Aunt Annie. I, too, love Elisabeth Elliot's writings borne out of the suffering which she herself has also endured. I wanted to let you know her mailing address, if you would like to contact her. It is: 10 Strawberry Cove, Magnolia, MA 01930. Much love to you!
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