Forgiveness is relinquishment

Salaam!

Could you live among murderers? That might seem like a very strange question. Why would anyone want to live among killers? And yet, that’s the story of Elisabeth Elliot. She chose to live among murderers, and not just any murderers, her husband’s murderers!

Jim and Elisabeth Elliot were missionaries to an unreached tribe. They had been trying to establish a relationship with the tribe for a long time. One day Jim and his friends finally attempted face-to-face contact, but they were instantly killed by the tribal members.

Elisabeth decided to forgive the killers and continued to try and share the gospel with them. Eventually, she succeeded and lived with the tribe, among her husband’s killers, for many years. Her remarkable act of forgiveness became a testimony to the tribe.

As a result, violence within the tribe, also known as ‘the savages’, drastically declined, and killings decreased. Many members became Christians and a local church took birth. What an amazing reward for the undoubtedly tough choice Elisabeth made to forgive.

In Elisabeth’s own words:

“Following Christ means walking the road He walked, and to forgive us, He had to die. Forgiveness is relinquishment. It is a laying down. No one can take it from us, any more than anyone could take the life of Jesus if He had not laid it down of His own will. But we can do as He did. We can offer it up, writing off whatever loss it may entail, in the sure knowledge that the man who loses his life or his reputation or his ‘face’ or anything else for the sake of Christ will save it" (Matthew 16:24-25).

Did Elisabeth’s story inspire you? I’d love to know!

Let’s pray together:

"Heavenly Father, when I hurt others, give me the strength to apologise. When others hurt me, give me the strength to forgive. In Jesus' name, amen.’

Hey! You are a Chamatkar.

Cameron Mendes