“May the Lamb That Was Slain

Receive the Reward of His Suffering”

In 1932, Johann Leonhard Dober and David Nitschmann, missionaries to African slaves in the Caribbean Islands, risked their lives to take the Gospel from Europe to the island of St. Thomas. It is reported that they sold themselves as slaves to a rich man in order to live and work among the African slaves and bring them to Christ. As they boarded the ship bound for the West Indies, one of them cried out, “May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering.”

These two men fully expected to lay down their lives as slaves to witness to African slaves and probably never return to their homeland again … for the sake of Christ and the Gospel.

Jesus Christ is that Lamb that was slain (Rev. 5:12). He is worthy to receive the reward of His suffering. He is worthy to receive the reward of our suffering for the Gospel, as well.

Since the time of Christ, hundreds of thousands of missionaries have circled the globe with the message of Christ’s salvation. Multitudes of missionaries have sacrificially given their lives in death due to persecution. Others died on their mission fields due to diseases and wild animal attacks. They all left families behind in the homeland for the sake of taking Good News to the heathen. Many died leaving spouses and children behind, also.

The financial cost of taking the Gospel around the world is astronomical. However, the physical cost of so many missionaries dying to win the lost is a much greater cost. Is it worth that cost?

On October 30, 2018, Charles Wesco, missionary to Cameroon, Africa, was shot in the head and killed. His wife and one son were in the backseat of the car and witnessed the human tragedy. His life ended quickly. Was it worth it?

Recently another Christian* was shot and killed in the Middle East. He left a wife and four children. This man’s life was making an impact on lost people in that country. A group of Muslim radicals murdered him while his family watched. This was the ultimate sacrifice for Christ. Although he and his wife knew the dangers of serving God in that country, they deemed the Lamb Who was slain for us to be worthy of such a sacrifice that others also might know the salvation, forgiveness, peace, and joy of Christ. Was it worth it? (Details withheld for safety.)

God’s Word promises persecution. “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). Hebrews 11:32–38 talks about many who suffered and died for Christ. Foxe’s Book of Martyrs tells many stories of martyrs. Was it worth it?

Is losing missionaries to martyrdom worthwhile? YES! Christ died for us to bring us to God. Now it is our turn to live and die for Christ to bring others to Christ, … the deaf and those with special needs! ADVANCE! The Lamb is worthy!