A CALL FOR SUFFERING AND SACRIFICE

Each of us a called out of darkness into God’s marvellous light. “9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” – 1 Peter 2:9

Those of us, whom the LORD called out, has entrusted to us the gospel of Good News of Jesus Christ – “18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” – Matthew 28:18-20

Heeding to such a call of the LORD, Samuel and Marie Gobat leave Germany, on 7 June 1834, bound for Ethiopia as missionaries. They went on this missionary call, just a little more than two weeks into their marriage. They suffer great and terrible things on their journey to Ethiopia. In fact their child dies while crossing Egypt.

Their life goes through all kinds of sufferings, and the intensity of their sufferings was severe. Yet they held on to the LORD, who had called them out of darkness into His marvellous light. The life of this couple is a reflection of the words of Jesus in – “24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me…27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.” – Matthew 16:24, 27

When the LORD called us into His marvellous light, He called us to a life of ‘willing sacrifice.’ May the LORD help us to be among those who are willing to suffer and sacrifice, as we walk this journey on the ‘Narrow Way.’