Is the distinction between living for Christ and dying for Him so great? Is not the second the logical conclusion of the first?
Interpretation
The quote suggests that living a life dedicated to Christ naturally leads to the ultimate sacrifice of dying for Him.
Elisabeth Elliot's quote reflects on the deep commitment one can have in their faith. She proposes that if one truly lives for Christ, then the act of dying for Him is not only a possibility but a natural extension of that devotion. This challenges believers to consider the weight of their faith and actions, emphasizing that a life devoted to spiritual principles may eventually lead to significant sacrifices.
In practice
In a sermon focused on the significance of faith, one might use this quote to inspire the congregation.
We are not asked to SEE," said Amy. "Why need we when we KNOW?" We know--not the answer to the inevitable Why, but the incontestable fact that it is for the best. "It is an irreparable loss, but is it faith at all if it is 'hard to trust' when things are entirely bewildering?
Prayer lays hold of God's plan and becomes the link between His will and its accomplishment on earth. Amazing things happen, and we are given the privilege of being the channels of the Holy Spirit's prayer.
What sort of world might it have been if Eve had refused the servants offer and had said to him instead, βlet me not be like God. Let me be what I was made to be - let me be a woman'?
Worship is not an experience. Worship is an act, and this takes discipline. We are to worship ''in spirit and in truth.'' Never mind about the feelings. We are to worship in spite of them.
Restlessness and impatience change nothing except our peace and joy. Peace does not dwell in outward things, but in the heart prepared to wait trustfully and quietly on Him who has all things safely in His hands.
If your goal is purity of heart, be prepared to be thought very odd.
I don't go in for being sorry for people. For one thing it's insulting. One is only sorry for people when they're sorry for themselves. Self-pity is one of the biggest stumbling blocks in the world today.
When we think too much about the opinions of others, we are letting them edit a book God has written.
The frail, vulnerable sounds of which we are capable seem to be essential to a later ability to roar like a lion without scaring everyone to death.
We find what we are looking for. If we are looking for life and love and openness and growth, we are likely to find them. If we are looking for witchcraft and evil, we'll likely find them, and we may get taken over by them.
A pure hand needs no glove to cover it.
It is not on the pinnacle of success and ease where men and women grow most. It is often down in the valley of heartache and disappointment and reverses where men and women grow.
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