A Cup Brimful of Sweetness

Elisabeth Elliot:

The whole Christian life is a process of bringing the self-life down to death in order that the life of Jesus may be manifest in us. “As he grows greater, I must grow less,” said John the Baptist (Jn 3:30).

God meant it—for good. When we pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” an angry retort from someone may be part of the answer, for it may furnish just the occasion we need in which to learn not only longsuffering and forgiveness, but meekness, gentleness, fruits not born in us but borne only by the Spirit in us. Amy Carmichael wrote, “A cup brimful of sweetness cannot spill even one drop of bitter water, no matter how suddenly jarred.”