REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Jabez Yeo, now a friend of AMI, was first posted on August 2, 2015.
Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend
“The Story of Jim and Elisabeth Elliot”
2 Timothy 4:6-7
For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
On June 15th 2015, missionary Elisabeth Elliot passed away at age 88. Mrs. Elliot grew up in Philadelphia and studied classical Greek at Wheaton College, seeking to be equipped to translate the Bible into an unknown language. It was at Wheaton where she met her husband, Jim Elliot, who also had a heart to share Christ with the unreached. The Elliots went to serve amongst the Quichua Indians in Ecuador along with four other missionary families in the mid 1950’s. On Jan 8th 1956, the five male missionaries attempted to make contact with the Hourani Indians but were killed by them during their attempts to communicate.
Though their lives vary greatly in length, Jim and Elisabeth provide two inspiring examples of finishing the race well. In regards to Jim, he passed away at age 28 and had seemingly nothing to show for his life other than a college degree and a small family. However, his journals were collected and later used by Elisabeth to write Through Gates of Splendor and Shadow of the Almighty. These two missionary accounts inspired thousands of Christians to become missionaries and serve among unreached peoples. One quote in his journal that still inspires many today is: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”
In regards to Elisabeth, she ended up outliving Jim by almost 60 years! Yet her life, too, was used by God in extremely powerful ways. Elisabeth ended up serving amongst the Huaorani and Quecha Indians for several years, planting churches and raising disciples. Once back in the U.S., she wrote several more classics such as Passion and Purity and The Mark of a Man. She counseled thousands of people through mail correspondence and her radio program Gateway to Joy ministered to many believers.
Like Jim and Elisabeth, heroes of faith who have gone before us, let us fix our eyes on the crown of righteousness that the Lord has for us. We may not know how long our race may be, but let us run well to receive the prize (Phil 3:14).
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I only have this one life to live. Help me not to throw it away aimlessly or to try and save it through my own means. Help me to lose my life for Your sake, for what good is it if I gain the whole world but lose my soul? By Your grace, help me to run this race well; may my life be used for Your glory. In Your Name I pray, Amen
Bible Reading for Today: Acts 11