Your Life Must Have Death In It

Jack Miller writing to a woman who has been thinking about becoming a missionary. She is dealing with her fears about her security.

What you discover is that there is no permanent joy in Christ apart from a willingness to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. That is, your life cannot have power in it or even salvation if you refuse to be like a grain of wheat that must fall to the ground in order to bring forth much fruit. God calls you to greatness, Catherine, but greatness means fruitfulness, and fruitfulness comes as we die to self and our fears and rise from the dead...Your life must have a death in it if it is to go anywhere. (p.230)