**January 8th marked the 68th anniversary of the death of missionary Jim Elliot, Elisabeth’s first husband (they married in 1953). In honor of the anniversary of his death, we are pleased to begin a new devotional series of excerpts from his journals, edited by Elisabeth. Today, we begin at the beginning, including Elisabeth’s introduction to his junior year at Wheaton College where Elisabeth attended as well. Here he began his journal in January of 1948. May these excerpts galvanize your heart in devotion to Christ as you pursue the Lord’s calling on your life.
Wheaton is a small liberal-arts college about twenty-five miles west of Chicago. Its motto is “For Christ and His Kingdom.” When Jim went there in the fall of 1945, it was with the object of preparing himself for the Lord’s service. He eliminated all that he felt would distract him from this objective, dating being one example of such a distraction. He made a habit of getting up early in the morning in order to have uninterrupted time for prayer and Bible study, but it was not until his junior year that he began to keep a journal as a means of self-discipline. Forcing himself to articulate something on paper helped him to concentrate and gave direction to his devotional times.
JANUARY 17, Genesis 23 What is written in these pages I suppose will someday be read by others than myself. For this reason I cannot hope to be absolutely honest in what is herein recorded, for the hypocrisy of this shamming heart will ever be putting on a front and dares not to have written what is actually found in its abysmal depths. Yet, I pray, Lord, that You will make these notations to be as nearly true to fact as is possible so that I may know my own heart and be able to definitely pray regarding my gross, though often unviewed, inconsistencies. I do this at the suggestion of Stephen Olford [a young British preacher who was later pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in New York City] whose chapel message of yesterday morning convicted me that my quiet time with God is not what it should be. These remarks are to be written from fresh, daily thoughts given from God in meditation on His Word.
Abraham calls himself a “stranger and a sojourner” in a land he believed God was going to give to him. This is the first time he shows any real inclination to making a home on earth, and how slight it is-only a field, some trees, and a cave in which he can bury his dead. Lord, show me that I must be a stranger, unconcerned and unconnected with affairs below, “looking for a city” (Heb. 13:14). It was when Abraham owned his strangerhood that the sons of Heth called him a “prince of God” (v. 6) among them. Abraham made no attempts to be a prince of men, as had Lot, and they all recognized his character and inheritance (qualities of a prince) as being not “of men” but “of God.” Oh, to be known as Israel-a prince with God-no longer as Jacob of the carnal mind. . . .
JANUARY 18 Genesis 24 Abraham’s wisdom in sending his servant instead of his son is excellent instruction for the marriage of “pilgrims.” . . . Lord, if thou wouldst join me to a woman, give me one Junior Year at Wheaton College, 1948 13 who like Rebekah, unattracted as yet by Isaac’s physical characteristics, unhesitatingly said, “I will go.” Jewels I can never give her-she must be willing to take only a tent and love, and be able to give comfort (v. 67). This wife was serviceable (bearing water), a second miler (“for thy camels also”), prompt and responsive (she “hastened and ran” [v. 18, 20, 281), and retiring (she covered herself). Lord Jesus, as one who constitutes part of Thy bride, make me to be all of these.
** This excerpt can be found in The Journals of Jim Elliot p. 11-13