Fear Out Cheer and Courage In

# 427 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 6:49,50 “And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid."

I f you lived in a culture that believed in ghosts as these disciples did, and you were physically exhausted and it was the middle of the night and you saw someone resembling Jesus walking next to your boat, what would your reaction be?

Would you not believe this was a ghost? Remember these disciples had not yet fully grasped all that Jesus as the Son of God was fully capable of. And if this was a ghost of Jesus, well, ....what had the people done to Him after they left? Ghosts are associated with the dead, not the living. No wonder they were troubled, so many disturbing thoughts occupying their minds.

But Jesus immediately puts them at ease. He says in essence, “Let your courage return to you! “It is I, in the flesh, recognize Me and let go of your fears” I like the way the Lutheran commentator Lenski puts it, “Fear out, cheer and courage in.”

It's what happens when we recognize the presence of Jesus. May God grant such recognition to you today and every day in which fear raises up to steal your cheer and courage. It is I, Jesus, perfect love, and “perfect love casts out fear, “ 1 Jn 4:18

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word.