“—-Be of good cheer: It is I; be not afraid.” Mark 6:50

Like the disciples, sometimes we find ourselves in the center of God’s will and a storm at the same time– leaving us confused and fearful. It then becomes crucial that we pay close attention to what the Lord says. These comments by Octavius Winslow remind us of this great need:

“Listen, then, to the voice of Jesus in the storm!

It is I who raised the tempest in your soul — and will control it.

It is I who sent your affliction — and will be with you in it.

It is I who kindled the furnace — and will watch the flames, and bring you through it.

It is I who formed your burden, who carved your cross — and who will strengthen you to bear it.

It is I who mixed your cup of grief — and will enable you to drink it with meek submission to your Father’s will.

It is I who took from you worldly substance, who bereft you of your child, of the wife of your bosom, of the husband of your youth — and will be infinitely better to you than husband, wife, or child. It is I who has done it ALL!

I make the clouds My chariot, and clothe Myself with the tempest as with a garment. The night hour is My time of coming, and the dark, surging waves are the pavement upon which I walk. Take courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.

It is I — your Friend, your Brother, your Savior! I am causing all the circumstances of your life to work together for your good.

It is I who permitted . . .
  the enemy to assail you,
  the slander to blast you,
  the unkindness to wound you,
  the need to press you!
Your affliction did not spring out of the ground, but came down from above — a heaven-sent blessing disguised as an angel of light, clad in a robe of ebony.

I have sent all in love!

This sickness is not unto death — but for the glory of God.

This bereavement shall not always bow you to the earth, nor drape in changeless gloom your life. It is I who ordered, arranged, and controlled it all!

In every stormy wind,
in every darksome night,
in every lonesome hour,
in every rising fear,
 — the voice of Jesus shall be heard, saying, “Be of good cheer: It is I; Be not afraid.”

“A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.”–Proverbs 16:28

The court of Queen Elizabeth I was a swirling hotbed of intrigue. Her counselors and advisors constantly tried to undercut each other and gain her favor. Elizabeth skillfully played them against each other, promoting one then another to keep anyone from becoming too powerful. One of the most skillful players of the court game was Robert Devereux, the Second Earl of Essex. At Essex’s direction, false accusations of treason or disloyalty were laid at the feet of some of the queen’s most trusted servants—and such accusations were hard to prove false. Essex eventually reached too far and tried to depose Queen Elizabeth. He gathered a group of conspirators and marched into London. The group was arrested, and Essex was executed for treason. By his continual undermining of others, he planted the seeds for his rejection.

When we spend our time gossiping and telling stories about others— whether those stories are true or false—we are doing a great disservice to them and to ourselves. Much damage has been done to the body of Christ by those who gossip. Paul warned Timothy about the danger such people pose to the church. “And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not” (1 Timothy 5:13).

For some people, “prayer requests” are a spiritual cover given to the spreading of gossip. If someone needs prayer, talk to God and see if there is anything you can do to encourage them. Telling others about the latest news is not productive. Instead it destroys relationships and creates conflict. Purpose to never be one who spreads rumors and damages relationships.

When you gossip and whisper about others, you are planting seeds for a bitter harvest.– Paul Chappell

Woe to them that are at ease in Zion- – – Amos 6:1
Where is the self-denial of the New Testament days?

Where is the separation from a self-pleasing luxurious world? Where is the cross, the true badge of discipleship, to be seen–except in useless religious ornaments for the body–?

“Woe to those who are at ease in Zion!” Is not this the description of multitudes who name the name of Christ? They may not be “living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.” But even where these are absent, there is ‘high living’–luxury of the table or the wardrobe–in conformity to ‘this present evil world.’

“At ease in Zion!” Yes! there is the shrinking . . .
  from hard service;
  from ‘spending and being spent;’
  from toil and burden-bearing and conflict;
  from self-sacrifice and noble service;
for the Master’s sake.

There is conformity to the world, instead of conformity to Christ!
There is a laying down, instead of a taking up of the cross.
Or there is a lining of the cross with velvet, lest it should gall our shoulders as we carry it!
Or there is an adorning of the cross, that it may suite the taste and the manners of our refined and intellectual age.

Anything but the bare, rugged and simple cross!

We think that we can make the strait gate wider, and the narrow way broader, so as to be able to walk more comfortably to the heavenly kingdom. We try to prove that ‘modern enlightenment’ has so refined ‘the world and its pleasures’, that we may safely drink the poisoned cup, and give ourselves up to the inebriation of the Siren song.

“At ease in Zion!” Even when the walls of our city are besieged, and the citadel is being stormed!

Instead of grasping our weapons, we lie down upon our couches!

Instead of the armor, we put on the silken robe!

We are cowards, when we should be brave!

We are faint-hearted, when we should be bold!

We are lukewarm, when we should be fervent!

We are cold, when we should be full of zeal!

We compromise and shuffle and make excuses, when we should lift up our voice like a trumpet! We pare down truth, or palliate error, or extenuate sin–in order to placate the world, or suit the spirit of the age, or ‘unify’ the Church.

Learn self-denying Christianity. Not the form or name, but the living thing. Let us renounce the lazy, luxurious, self-pleasing, fashionable religion of the present day!

A self-indulgent religion has nothing in common with the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ; or with that cross of ours which He has commanded us to take up and carry after Him–renouncing ease and denying self.

Our time,
our abilities,
our money,
our strength–
are all to be laid upon the altar.–By Horatius Bonar

“Woe to them that are at ease in Zion!” Amos 6:1

—Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.—Mark 8:34
Throughout the Christian’s journey there are many crosses and losses. Although it ends in great gain it is a rough road. We are confronted by and subjected to things we wouldn’t choose for ourselves, yet One wiser than we sends or allows them. He does so for our good and His glory. Although burdened by it we are better for it.

Alexander Smellie wrote, “—never is Jesus so near to me as when I lift my cross, and lay it submissively on my shoulders, and give it the welcome of a patient and unmurmuring spirit. He draws close—
— to ripen my wisdom,
— to deepen my peace,
— to increase my courage;
— to augment my graces,
through the very experience which is so grievous and distressing. And then, I grow close to Jesus under the load.”

“Closer to Jesus”—isn’t that what we want? Is that not what we need? But for that to happen we must be subjected to things that are painful and hard to bear. We are never closer to the Lord than when we are clinging to Him for survival. Knowing we can’t make it without Him forces us to seek His face and trust His grace. It is then that our trials turn to treasures. Our losses become a crown when it brings us “closer to Jesus”.

The cross of which our Lord speaks does not refer to the troubles common to man. It has to do with the hardships we encounter as a result of following Christ. We are never excused from duty due to difficulty. And we never fail to gain when we give all to follow Christ. Like the old song says, “It pays to serve Jesus!”