I’m one of those people who work better with music playing, but it has to be wordless. As I’m putting this post together as an encouragement to you, “This is My Father’s World” is playing! What a wonderful reminder!!! “…and though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet!” Hallelujah! God is still the God of gods and LORD of lords! Coronavirus is not taking Him by surprise! I hope that is an encouragement to you. Some are probably saying, “Why would a good God allow such a thing to happen. If He really loves us, He would stop it!” Hmmm. Sounds strangely familiar to this:
He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
Matthew 27:42
And would the world believe if tomorrow we awoke to absolutely no coronavirus ANYWHERE on the planet? No, sadly, man would somehow take the credit.
As I was reading Matthew 8 this morning, it seemed so applicable to our day—this day of fear. Amazingly, the chapter records the following accounts:
- Five healings:
- Leper healed
- Centurion’s servant healed
- Peter’s mother-in-law healed
- Many who were demon-possessed healed
- “all who were sick (in Capernaum) healed
Then this amazing condition is given by Jesus to someone who says he wants to follow him AFTER he burys his father. “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead. (vs. 21,22) [There’s a lot there too, but that’s for another day!]
Next, Jesus calms the storm. Look at these notes from Matthew Henry:
- when he went to sea, he had no yacht or pleasure-boat to attend him, but made use of his disciples’ fishing-boats; so poorly was he accommodated in all respects. (I praise God that He is willing to use weak, even broken, vessels!)
- His disciples followed him; the twelve kept close to him, when others staid behind upon the terra firma, where there was sure footing. Note, They, and they only, will be found the true disciples of Christ, that are willing to go to sea with him, to follow him into dangers and difficulties. Many would be content to go the land-way to heaven, that will rather stand still, or go back, than venture upon a dangerous sea; but those that would rest with Christ hereafter must follow him now wherever he leads them, into a ship or into a prison, as well as into a palace. (I’m not saying that we should purposely put ourselves into harms way. We need to be wise and keep a good testimony before our unsaved neighbors and loved ones. But we are willing to go through these difficult times because we know it is where our Lord is leading us)
- Christ could have prevented this storm, and have ordered them a pleasant passage, but that would not have been so much for his glory and the confirmation of their faith as their deliverance was: this storm was for their sakes. (Dear fellow struggler, remember, it is through the storms of life that we learn to lean the most!)
- Jesus Christ was asleep in this storm. We never read of Christ’s sleeping but at this time; he was in watchings often, and continued all night in prayer to God: this was a sleep, not of security, like Jonah’s in a storm, but of holy serenity, and dependence upon his Father: he slept to show that he was really and truly man, and subject to the sinless infirmities of our nature: his work made him weary and sleepy, and he had no guilt, no fear within, to disturb his repose.
And then comes the disciples “normal” response:
And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? Mark 4:38
Oh wow! Does Jesus care? Oh, my, yes, A THOUSAND TIMES YES!
In this unbelievable, frightening time in which we live, don’t lose sight of Who is in charge and Who allowed it. Earlier this week I posted on Facebook this quote from, YouVersion:
Jesus is always in your boat.
YouVersion March 19, 2020
It’s easy to focus on your fears when you can’t control your future. But thankfully, Jesus knows your future, and He’s always by your side. And, He calls you to live by faith, not by sight.
If you choose to look to Jesus above everything else, you will begin to see that the storms you face are not nearly as powerful as the Savior choosing to walk through the storm alongside you.
One last quote from Matthew Henry. May it strengthen your faith in the only One and True and Living and All-Powerful God that sent His Only Begotten Son into this world to save us from the penalty of sin! He along gives the strength to live!
The scope of this chapter is to show the divine power of Christ, by the instances of his dominion over bodily diseases, which to us are IRRESISTABLE; over winds and waves, which to us are yet more UNCONTROLLABLE; and lastly, over devils, which to us are most FORMIDABLE of all. Christ has not only all power in heaven and earth and all deep places, but has the keys of hell too. Principalities and powers were made subject to him, even while he was in his estate of humiliation, as an earnest of what should be at his entrance into his glory.
“…far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.” Ephesians 1:21
Dost Thou Not Carehttps://wandamacavoy.com/2014/12/01/dost-thou-not-care/
Beyond Common Sense 