Lose Your Life to Save It

In preparation for this Sunday's mesage, "Die to Live" (Part 4 of The Upside Down Way of God), I have been studying Mark 8:34-38. Jesus said in verse 35, "For whoever wants to save his life will lost it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it." Those words remind me of the story of Jim Elliot. Elliot was a missionary to Ecuador who, along with four others, was killed on January 8, 1956 (see below), attempting to evangelize the Huaorani people. His journal entry for October 28, 1959, contains his now famous quotation: "He is no fool to give what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." Some probably do consider Jim Elliot a fool, but I know he doesn't feel foolish as he stands in the presence of Christ at this moment. I don't believe that Jesus' statement means that we should seek martyrdom. He's saying that we should be willing to make any sacrifice for Him--even the sacrifice of our lives. When we exchange our will for His will, we demonstrate that our commitment to Him is real. "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8:36).