Fully Surrendered Faith
“Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.” Philippians 3:8 NLT
In February 1952, Jim Elliot left a life of ease to go to Ecuador as a missionary. Four years later, while attempting to evangelize the Huaorani people, he was martyred by the cannibal tribe. His last journal entry read: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Fully surrendered.
Two years after his death, his widow, Elisabeth Elliot, obeyed God’s call to return to Ecuador to live with and evangelize the Huaorani. Many came to Christ including those who savagely killed her husband. Elisabeth wrote, “I know the truth of 2 Corinthians 4:17, ‘These little troubles (which are really so transitory) are winning for us a permanent, glorious and solid reward out of all proportion to our pain.’” Fully surrendered.
Our days are full of ‘worthless garbage,’ things we prioritize that have no eternal value but consume us, leaving us little time or energy to bow to His plan for our life. We choose to navigate our days with God’s will at a comfortable arm’s length. No inconvenience. No risk.
True faith compels us to live fully surrendered to God. Through the power of the Holy Spirit in us, we give up our right to be encumbered by the ‘worthless’ things of this life to passionately follow the Savior who gave His life for us. In unabashed surrender, we gain abundant hope. We find our God-given purpose. Our priorities align with God’s priorities. We experience unwavering courage and have a passion for both lost souls and His Church. We do not fear hardship, persecution, or death. We live in radical obedience, having the mind of Christ.
Father, help us to put the ‘worthless’ things of this life in proper perspective, to surrender to Your will for our lives. We acknowledge any amount of suffering or sacrifice is ‘little’ (momentary) in light of Your perfect plan and eternity. We choose You above all else. Amen.