Matthew 10:37-39
We should all be thankful for Elisabeth Elliot, one of the 20th century’s most well-known missionaries. In 1956, she was living in Ecuador, reaching unchurched tribal peoples when her husband, Jim Elliot, and five other missionaries were killed by the Auca tribal people of Eastern Ecuador. Instead of leaving Ecuador, she persevered there for 7 more years, giving up the right to leave for her own safety. Over time, the Auca people were reached for Christ as a result of Elisabeth’s perseverance. (See the movie, ‘End of the Spear’, for complete story details!) Elisabeth Elliot would go on to write 27 books, and become a role-model for all Christian women to follow.
Jesus taught in Matthew 10:39 that ‘Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.’ We are reminded to be thankful for what we have on Thanksgiving Day each year. But how can we truly experience everyday thankfulness as a follower of Christ? We must DAILY choose to give up our life…surrender our self-satisfying ambitions (Black Friday???) to follow Christ’s plan for everyday life (Jer 29:11-13).
When we give up our life to know Christ’s way of life, we discover JOY for everyday living, PEACE during life’s struggles, HOPE for a future eternity in Christ, and LOVE for God’s people to see all nations come to know Christ as Savior.
Elisabeth discovered God’s promise of grace by giving up her life. She thanked God through many trials. Is your thankfulness rooted in finding Christ’s way of life?
Jason Marshall