Recently I read a prayer of Jim Elliot (that's him in the picture), "Lord, make me a crisis man. Let me not be a milepost on a single road, but make me a fork that men must turn one way or another in facing Christ in me". These words struck me. If we are fulfilling our calling as followers of Christ, if we are speaking the gospel and living like its true, people around us will inevitibly be brought to a place of crisis. We will become to the people around us a fork in the road, where they are confronted with the Christ within us. Even if we are as gentle and compassionate and gracious as possible, the moment will surely come when the friend chooses a road. Often we try to soften or avoid this crisis moment at all costs. It is awkward and there is always the risk of offending and alienating our friends. A Chrsitian must be exceedingly cautious to ensure that the crisis is caused by Christ in us and NOT by us! There is enough to cause offense in the gospel we believe. We ought not add to the offense with our big mouths or our boorish attitudes. But if Christ in us causes crisis then so be it. The hard part comes when we are rejected along with Christ and the friend chooses to leave us behind. That's tough to deal with, but its what we are called to in this life. Here's a relevant text from the New Testament:
When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?"
But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, "Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe." (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.)
And he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father."
After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.
So Jesus said to the Twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?"
Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God."
Christ was a fork in the road. Let us be as well.
(To read more about Jim Elliot's story check this out: http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/bios/b4jelliot6ra.htm
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