WE SHALL, THIS DAY, LIGHT A CANDLE

Down through the centuries many have paid a price for their faith and commitment to the LORD Jesus Christ. *Some have paid by enduring hardships and sufferings. Some have paid by facing storms and struggles. Some others have paid by their blood, and some by their very lives.* It is no small things to walk with the Redeemer. However, it is worth every penny, may be, worth every suffering, every pain, every storm, every drop of the blood shed for the Saviour of the world.
– “38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” – Matthew 10:38-39
– “35…Others were tortured…36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.” – Hebrews 11:35-38

Today, 16 October in the year 1555 a good 469 years back, in Oxford, UK, English reformers, Nicholas Ridley and Hugh Latimer were burned to death at the stake, under the government of Queen Mary, for denying the Roman Catholic doctrine of Transubstantiation. Latimer, who dies a lot quicker than Ridley, tries to encourage Ridley, as he approached his own death by saying, “Be of good comfort, Mr. Ridley, and play the man! We shall this day light such a candle by God’s grace, in England, as I trust never shall be put out.” Both of them, sure did light, that day, a blazing candle, for the glory of God, and for the proclamation of His truth. 

What a testimony and what courage dear brothers and sisters. What commitment and what faith! They have lived what the apostle Paul had written to the Church at Philippi, as a disciple of the LORD…– “21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” – Philippians 1:21

Matt Chandler, explains eloquently the above words of Paul, which surely would help us today, as we see the world changing very rapidly, right in front of our eyes.
– “When Paul says, “To live is Christ, and to die is gain,” he means it. If you want to kill me, I will be more than fine: I will get to be with Jesus. My death will be filled with Christ. And if you want to let me live, I will press on in mission. My life will be filled with Christ. If you want to torture me or imprison me or mock me, I will trust in God. My suffering will make me like Christ. I will see it as a sharing of His own suffering.”

What are our thoughts dear brothers and sisters on living for Christ our Redeemer? What were once “Christian” nations and societies, are fast becoming de-Christianised, and gleefully becoming, anti-Christian. One need not mention, the other parts of the world. The words of Paul to young Timothy are true even today…
– “12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” – 2 Timothy 3:12

May the English reformers, Nicholas Ridley and Hugh Latimer be our inspiration even today, to live for our God, and serve Him faithfully and obediently. Even so the LORD help us.