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Whatever Our Trial, Christ is Near, December 8
Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him
walking on the sea, they were troubled.... But straightway Jesus spake unto
them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
Matthew 14:25-27
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We are to watch. Christ said, Watch unto prayer. He does not deceive any of
us. He takes us to an eminence, shows us the confederacy of evil and the strength
of the powers of darkness that are arrayed against all who would have faith in
Jesus Christ, and tells us to count the cost; but He does more for us; He does not
leave us there without still further encouragement. He does not show us trials and
conflicts and leave us without help to fight the battles. But He tells us that God has
His angels that minister unto those who shall be heirs of salvation. Round about
His throne are thousands and thousands and ten times ten thousands of angels.
What is their work? It is to do the bidding of Jesus Christ their Master. And
what do they do? They tell you that Christ chose you, that heavenly angels are
with you, and they remain with you. You can have but little strength to war against
principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places, but here is One
who points you to the help heaven sent, that every soul, however strong or weak,...
may be [victorious]....
We say we do believe that Jesus Christ died, but is He your personal Saviour?
Here is the faith part of it.... Do you grasp Him by the living hand of faith? Do
you reach out your hand to Him and say, as did Peter, “Save, Lord, or I perish”?
He will save you. You remember there the disciples were toiling with the ship,
and they gave up all hope of reaching the land. While in their dread peril they see
One coming toward them, stepping on the foam-crested billows as He would on
solid earth, and they were afraid and said, “It is a spirit”; but Christ says, “It is I,
be not afraid.”
Oh, how much “It is I” means! It means everything to us when we are in
trouble or perplexities. Can you not hear His voice? Can you not hear Him saying,
“It is I; be not afraid”? ... He is addressing Himself to us. Whatever your weakness
or trial, Christ is near you. He says, “It is I, be not afraid.”...
Did ever anyone lift [his] hands to Jesus and say, “Save, Lord, or I perish,”
and He pass [him] by? Never, never! He is a Jesus that hears the faintest cry. We
need none of us faint or cry or be discouraged. We need not faint, for like Peter,
we may look to the darkness and trials around us.... The Lord took the hand of
Peter and he was saved. And thus we have a Saviour and in every trial we are to
trust in the Lord God of Israel and He will be our Helper.—
Manuscript 10, 1891
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