Jim Elliot

There are many people who have influenced my walk with Christ, many who I haven't ever met. One such person is Jim Elliot. Yesterday was the 54th anniversary of the day that he was martyred for his faith. Though he died so early in his ministry plant to the Auca's, Christ was glorified in his death and has worked mightily in the people he died at the hands of. In addition, his story is known worldwide and is a challenge for us to follow Christ no matter what the cost. One of Jim Elliot's most known quotes is, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."

After hearing Elisabeth Elliot speak at Urbana when I was a young believer, I was moved to commit to be used by God in the same way that her and Jim have been. She spoke of how it was not her or Jim, but the Holy Spirit that was at work accomplishing God's will. She quoted 2 Corinthians 4:7-12,

"7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. 12So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. "

I knew for the first time, that God could work through me, a broken vessel, to reach lives for him. I commited to being available whether it was for one person or 10's of thousands.

I am so thankful for Jim Elliot and the life he lived and died for Christ as an example of how we can follow Christ richly.

Here is the link of Elisabeth Elliot speaking at Urbana 1996. Simple testimony that changed my life.
http://www.urbana.org/archives/1996/session?recordid=10

Here is a link to two of Jim Elliot's sermons.
http://www.wheaton.edu/bgc/archives/docs/elliotsermons.html