This is a part of a sermon by Paris Reidhead call "Ten Shekels and a Shirt". What motivates our lives? What motivates our Christianity? Is the happiness of man the end of all things or is it the Glory of God. We are so ingrained by bad theology that the church of Christ has become utilitarian. Meaning that we use God as a means to get our happiness. This story illustrates the opposite of humanism and the utilitarian. These two men became mission with God to bring Christ Glory with their lives.
Two young Moravians heard of an island in the West Indies where an atheist British owner had 2000 to 3000 slaves. And the owner had said, "No preacher, no clergyman, will ever stay on this island. If he’s shipwrecked we’ll keep him in a separate house until he has to leave; but he’s never going to talk to any of us about God. I’m through with all that nonsense." Three thousand salves from the jungles of Africa brought to an island in the Atlantic and there to live and die without hearing of Christ.Two young Moravians heard about it. They sold themselves to the British planter and used the money they received from their sale, for he paid no more than he would for any slave, to pay their passage out to his island for he wouldn’t even transport them. As the ship left it’s pier in the river at Hamburg and was going out into the North Sea, carried with the tide, the Moravians had come from Herrenhut to see these two lads off, in their early twenties. Never to return again, for this wasn’t a four year term; they sold themselves into life-time slavery. Simply that as slaves, they could be a s Christians where these others were. The families were there weeping, for they knew they would never see them again. And they wondered why they were going and questioned the wisdom of it. As the gap widened and the housings had been cast off and were being curled up there on the pier, and the young boys saw the widening gap, one lad with his arm liked through the arm of his fellow, raised his hand and shouted across the gap the last words that were heard from them, they were these: "MAY THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN, RECEIVE THE REWARD OF HIS SUFFERING!" This became the call of Moravian missions. And this is the only reason for being, That the Lamb that was slain, may receive the reward of His suffering.
Two young Moravians heard of an island in the West Indies where an atheist British owner had 2000 to 3000 slaves. And the owner had said, "No preacher, no clergyman, will ever stay on this island. If he’s shipwrecked we’ll keep him in a separate house until he has to leave; but he’s never going to talk to any of us about God. I’m through with all that nonsense." Three thousand salves from the jungles of Africa brought to an island in the Atlantic and there to live and die without hearing of Christ.Two young Moravians heard about it. They sold themselves to the British planter and used the money they received from their sale, for he paid no more than he would for any slave, to pay their passage out to his island for he wouldn’t even transport them. As the ship left it’s pier in the river at Hamburg and was going out into the North Sea, carried with the tide, the Moravians had come from Herrenhut to see these two lads off, in their early twenties. Never to return again, for this wasn’t a four year term; they sold themselves into life-time slavery. Simply that as slaves, they could be a s Christians where these others were. The families were there weeping, for they knew they would never see them again. And they wondered why they were going and questioned the wisdom of it. As the gap widened and the housings had been cast off and were being curled up there on the pier, and the young boys saw the widening gap, one lad with his arm liked through the arm of his fellow, raised his hand and shouted across the gap the last words that were heard from them, they were these: "MAY THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN, RECEIVE THE REWARD OF HIS SUFFERING!" This became the call of Moravian missions. And this is the only reason for being, That the Lamb that was slain, may receive the reward of His suffering.
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In America, our suffering looks different from being beaten or tortured. Our most direct suffering for Christ comes as an attack on our pride. How strange is that? As Christians we should be seeking to slay the pride that rises up in us, we should welcome the world when it wants to destroy this thing we hate. This would be the case if we hated our pride, popularity, the approval of man, good standing, and fake friendships that we have. But we don’t. We don’t hate any of these things. We secretly love them and glory in them. I tell you to glory in Christ and Him Crucified. Should you receive any praise for having this burning passion in your life, be hasty to deliver it directly to the Lord Jesus because he is the only one deserving of it. Most times, instead of seizing the opportunity to endure hardship like a good soldier, we dodge pain. We are so caught up in trying to live our best life now, we can’t see past our preferences to the marvelous light that is God’s glory. I challenge everyone as God has challenged me to grow up and realize that Christ being fully glorified in you is the only thing on this earth that will ever fully satisfy.
"to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen." Romans 16:27; the last thing Paul wrote to the Roman church.
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