Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Be Of Good Cheer, It Is I

King James Bible Daily Devotion – Learning Scripture One Day At A Time
Date: Tuesday, October 06, 2015
Chapters: Matthew 14-16 http://imfollowingjesus.com/Bible-Reading-279.html
Message Title: Be Of Good Cheer, It Is I

Hello My Friend,

When you look back on your life you often reflect on the years that you had with and without Jesus. I got saved when I was younger, but didn't think much of it and like many just did my own thing. I had trials, and some I have no idea how I survived, it was not until I understood what my salvation really was and dedicated my life to Christ that I realized He was the one protecting me. You see, God will let us do our own thing, and while it may seem like He is no where to be found, when we least expect it, He reveals Himself, and He shows us that He never left us. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 8:35,38,39.

Thousands of people began to follow Jesus everywhere He went, many of them just waiting to see if they could catch Him doing something wrong. Regardless of who they were, He never stopped caring for them, even feeding them. As Jesus sent the multitudes away, He tells His disciples to get into a ship, then He needing some time to Himself went up to a mountain to pray. “And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” - Matthew 14:22-27.

And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, this was between three and six o'clock in the morning. God is always above, watching over us, He does not always show Himself, but He never takes His eyes off us. When we are in the midst of our storms, just when we need Him most, that is when He comes to the rescue. There is a reason why He often appears to be hiding in the midst of our storms, and that reason is to get us to trust Him, and not the circumstances we are in. When you stop to think about it, our storms may have come to an end much quicker if we trusted God in the first place. God does not want us to live in fear and search for every way we can to get our of it, He wants us to live in faith, trusting that He will carry us through. “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” - Romans 8:13-15.

When Jesus walked the earth there was not a day that went by where He was not being tempted, criticized, or put to the test. He is still being tempted, criticized, and put to the test today, perhaps more by the religious people. The scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees, were the ones who claimed to know God above all, yet they were quick to question everything that Jesus did, and now they are questioning the actions of the disciples.

Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” - Matthew 15:2-9.
Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? Transgress, to break or violate a law, civil or moral. We've been talking about this for a while now, man made rules do not save us, only Gods rules save us. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Thousands of churches claim the name of Jesus, and sadly they are sending their followers straight to hell because they are following their traditions and not what God actually commands, He has one command that all must follow if they want to be saved, and that is to believe in and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” - 2 Peter 3:9,10.

Many religions talk about Jesus and even His death, but do not acknowledge His burial and resurrection. And those that do acknowledge it, add to or take away from the doctrine of the Gospel. This is vain worship and following the traditions of man, in other words, following what others tell them who Jesus is instead of the truth from the Word of God. Again, Jesus makes it clear what will happen to those who follow the traditions of man and not God's Word. “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. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.” - Matthew 16:24-28.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. A saved life is a new life with Christ. When we receive Christ and live our lives with Him, we literally change, and people see it. Let me tell you, you do not know true friends until you know Christ, you will lose many friends and even family members as your old life fades and new life with Christ shines. People who live in sin cannot stand to see the light of Christ shining in those whom have turned their lives around through Him. I do not think most people unintentionally seek lies told by man, but the truth is people will believe anything to support their lifestyles, and if they are lies they will live by them rather than the truth. Everyone has their own opinions of who Jesus is, those who truly believe are not ashamed to say that they know Him. “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.” - Romans 10:10-12.

Today's Prayer: God, We don’t always know where our steps will take us on life’s journey, but we do know where they lead, to Christ, who is always keeping watch over us. Our steps here may lead to cold, dark mountains or deep valleys, or perhaps crooked paths and rough terrain may be part of the journey, but ultimately we will rest where the steps of Jesus take us. We will no longer have questions about You or our future, for we know that we will spend eternity with You in Your Kingdom. Lord, lead us and guide us, give us Your power, wisdom, and strength to stand strong and overcome all our storms until You come to get us. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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