Be A Star

Elizabeth Elliot Devotional: Stars in a Dark World


One of the letters the apostle Paul wrote from
prison begs his friends to think and feel alike,
to love, to have the "same turn of mind, and a
common care for unity" (Phil 2:2 NEB). In such
company there would be no room for rivalry or
personal vanity. Each one would be thinking the
others better, seeking to put their interests
first.

Obedience, humility, cheerfulness ("Do all you
have to do without complaint or wrangling") are
rare in a warped and crooked world--nearly
nonexistent, in fact, where each lives for his
own ends. If a marriage counselor were to ask
each partner, "What are your goals?" and the
answer were "How can I best serve my husband or
wife? What can I do to further his or her goals?"
the counseling period would be over, the bill
low. Any two people, any community of Christians
who set themselves to look only to the other's
interest would be a rare and radiant thing,
shining, as Paul said, "like stars in a dark
world" (Phil 2:15 NEB).

In that same sense, a Christian might well pray,
"Lord, make me a star."