09/04/2022 - ACCOMPANIED BY JESUS

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And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep.  Mathew 8:24

Seeing a crowd coming to Him after healing the sick, the Master felt it was time to fulfill another mission. People guided by the Lord know when to leave and where to go, because He guides such a journey. It doesn’t matter where we are sent, but by Whom. However, walking with the Savior does not always mean the absence of difficulties (John 16:33). He is good and He keeps us!

Jesus got into the boat, and His disciples followed Him. As we know, walking with the Son of God may not be easy, but there is no reason for us to stop walking with Him. There is no better place than in the Savior’s company. The devil may invest against us and God’s work, but if we are under the Lord´s command, the enemy will lose any battle whatsoever. Jesus has all power in Heaven and on Earth.

The accuser will try to silence the voice of those who carry the divine message. In the case we are considering, a storm at the sea terrified the disciples. The Word shows that they, after hearing that they should go over to the other side, took the Messiah as He was, without revering Him as their leader (Mark 4:36). We have also acted in this way. When difficulties arise and we plead for God’s help, we must always treat Him as the Lord!

Having seen the power of God manifested in a glorious way, those men thought that nothing would stop them from reaching the other shore, but after trying to beat the storm by themselves, they saw that without Jesus – they could do nothing. In fact, this is what He had told them (John 15:5). When they realized that they were going to sink, they woke up the Master, saying that they were perishing. Still lying there, the Savior declared: But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 8:26 a). He is the Lord!

The disciples may have had faith, but it was still too little to overcome the rough sea, so their command had no effect. Many times, we think: “Just command evil to leave, and everything will be fine! Then we realize that this is not so. Christ showed that the reason they could not overcome the storm was because they were men of little faith. Our trust in God needs to grow like that of the Canaanite woman (Matthew 15:28).

After asking them why they were afraid, the Redeemer stood up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and a great calm ensued (Matthew 8:26b). The disciples were amazed, saying: “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” (Matthew 8.27). This is how we should be, but because we have never completely devoted ourselves to the Most High, we lose the battle. God will answer us if we believe in Him!

We must not be consumed by discussions about who we are or what we can do. We need to redeem the time, for the days are evil (Ephesians 5:15,16). Those who love the Lord never let themselves be carried away by fear or diabolical threats. After all, we are more than conquerors in all things (Romans 8:37). We can do the same works that Jesus did! Hallelujah!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares