“ And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.” — Matt 8:24

The disciples had not put out out sea of their own suggestion. Had they done so without Christ’s bidding, they would not have had the same reason to expect protection and deliverance. The lesson we learn here is this — that storms may arise even when we are in the plain line of duty. We should not be discouraged by the difficulty or trouble that comes, and conclude that we are in the wrong path.

We see, too, that Christ’s presence with his disciples does not keep the storms away. There are no promises in the Bible that Christian people shall not meet trials. Religion builds no high walls about us to break the force of the winds. Troubles come to the Christian just as surely as to the worldly man. There are the storms of temptation; these sweep down with sudden and terrific power from the cold mountains of this world. then there are storms of sickness, of disappointment and adversity, of sorrow, that make the waves and billows to roll over the soul.

On the Sea or Galilee travellers say that a boat will be gliding along smoothly over a glassy surface, unbroken by a ripple, when suddenly, without a moments’s warning, tempest will sweep down, and almost instantly the boat will be tossed in the angry waves. Thus many of life’s storms come. Temptations come when we are not looking for them. So disasters come. We are at peace in a happy home. At an hour when we think not, without warning, the darling child we love so much lies dead in our arms. The friend we trusted, and who we thought could never fail us, proves false. The hopes cherished for years wither in our hands in the night, like flowers when the frost comes. The storms of life are nearly all sudden surprises. They do not hang out danger-signals days before to warn us. The only way to be ready for them is to be always ready.– J. R. Miller

“Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace” Proverbs 3:17
As you know, most people spend their lives in the pursuit of pleasure. As Solomon of old they search the world in their hunt for happiness, without ever finding it. Only the wise man who honors God finds what he has been looking for. He could have had what he sought at anytime had he but turned to the Creator rather than searching all of creation. A.W. Pink said it well in the following—-
“The Satan-deceived world imagines that godliness is a thing of gloom — rather than of gladness; that it is something which the saints endure — rather than enjoy. On the contrary, holiness is happiness!
It is neither the mirth of the fool, nor the giddy gaiety of the thoughtless — but a ‘peace which passeth all understanding’ (Philippians 4:7), and a heart-satisfaction not to be found elsewhere! So far from piety robbing us of freedom, it conducts into true liberty — delivering from the bondage of sin. Christ’s yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:30).
God has established an inseparable connection between holiness — and happiness; between our pleasing Him — and our enjoyment of His providential smile.
Worldly mirth is at best evanescent — but the delights of holiness are eternal.
Only the One Who made us — can truly content us!”

“ALL at it — and ALWAYS at it!”

This was what John Wesley endeavored to impress upon all his followers — and this is what we would like to see impressed upon the mind of every Christian. We have much to do — and we have little time to do it in. We had need therefore, to be up and at it!

If ignorance is to be chased away,
if gospel knowledge is to be circulated,
if souls are to be saved,
if children are to be taught,
if churches are to grow,
if villages, towns, and cities are to be evangelized
— then we had need be ALL at it — and ALWAYS at it!

This is just . . .
what the times call for,
what the Gospel inculcates,
what Satan dreads,
what the carnal world dislikes —
therefore let us be “all at it — and always at it.”

Let everyone undertake that part of the work for which he is most adapted — and persevere in that which he commences.

How many there are who profess Christ — who are doing nothing!
How many may easily do twice as much as they currently do.
Is it surprising . . .
that the church is in such a poor spiritual state,
that Popery spreads,
that ignorance prevails,
that congregations are thin,
that little is accomplished,
that ministers are dispirited, and
that mature Christians are going home to sigh?
No! It is not at all surprising! The wonder is, that things are not worse!

Self-denial is rarely practiced,
the flesh is indulged,
the world is loved,
the earthly is preferred to the spiritual — and the present to the future.

Let us all go at it, and let us be always at it — until we hear the Master’s voice calling unto us and saying, “Well done, good and faithful servants, enter into the joy of your Lord!”

But if we . . .
neglect duty,
despise warning,
love ease,
court pleasure,
hunt for honor,
use our Lord’s money selfishly,
and settle down upon our lees —
we shall by and bye see the day, when we will wish we had been ALL at it — and ALWAYS at it! —
James Smith, 1864

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58

“Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” – Matthew 16:24

While salvation is free being a disciple of Christ will cost you everything. To follow Him we must be willing to deny self so as to please Him. And the demands of discipleship never change. It is the same today as it was when the apostles walked the earth. It is a willingness to walk with the Lord by forsaking all to follow Him. Nothing less will do. Adrian Rogers explained it like this:

“Do you want to be filled with Spirit of God? Do you really? Are you willing to forsake self? God is not going to superimpose His mighty, dynamic power on your old self-life.

Some people think denying themselves is doing without certain kinds of food, going without sleep, or doing without certain pleasures. They think maybe if they go live in a monastery they’ll be denying themselves.

But Jesus didn’t say deny yourself things. It‘s not denying yourself things; it’s denying yourself. Simon Peter forsook his nets early on, but it was a long time before Simon Peter forsook Simon Peter.

Are you ready now to take Self off the throne and enthrone Jesus there instead? Are you ready to say, “None of me and all of Thee”?”