Heros of the Faith: Jim Elliot - Susan Miller (2016)

He was not wrestling because he liked wrestling, but wrestling was a means of keeping his body fit and strong enough for missionary work. University also was not to get only education and a Bachelor's degree, but a degree of A.U.G, approved unto God.

Determined that it was a profitable year based on how that year he had drawn closer to God and discovered truths in the Bible. Christianity to him was a real, living, daily experience.

The austere attitudes they had adopted were in accordance with the Apostle Paul's teaching about freedom of the Christian. Some things were simply good clean fun that built friendships. False spiritual standards - perfect liberty in doing things they used to condemn.

His work seemed unappreciated and he felt misunderstood. Naturally, his impulse was to defend himself. Instead, he knelt and prayed, renewing his commitment to be satisfied with nothing less than throwing himself into the hands of God.

- He waited patiently and did not decide on things that God didn't say 

For Ed to follow the leading of God, not to follow the leading of Jim Elliot. He asked God for wisdom in his words to Ed's family.

Sought after work and experience in radio, medical, educational work, which could be ueful applications to their future missionary work. Ever investment made for one goal. There was a pattern here.

*Do things that would help me in my ultimate calling. (Matthew Jaffare, picking up things and storing them in your bag)

Jim's years of training to be in shape, reading and knowing the Word inside out, did it all pay off in the beginning? He wouldn't use any of those skills in the beginning. He was so eager to do ministry work. "No matter how well they laid their plans, something always got in the way" ie. Snake bite, childbirth/death.

Fulfilling their calling to serve God did not after all mean denying themselves the love and support of a family. And their commitment living in the jungle, even with small children, proved they were serious about that calling. 

"They had given their lives trying to reach the Waoranis. At the time, it might have seemed that they failed, but thirty three years later, a savage tribe was living peacefully with its neighbors and teaching the Christian faith" Began with a vision, "a hundred flash lights" (angels)

What they started out to do was finally done. Interestingly, by women, rather than the single male missionaries Jim Elliot had thought were the only suitable candidates for pioneer missionary work.

Possibly in his death, Jim Elliot did more to spur interest in missions than if he had spent a long life speaking to student groups and churches, as he was formerly offered to do. He gave God all he had to give and by his death, inspired many others to do the same. Because he died his journals (Life Magazine) were published, many followed missionary life that he exemplified in his singularity of purpose in living a life wholly given onto God.