Many of our friends have taken trips on huge cruise ships. Karen and I have never done so. After reading from others about the latest adventures, I was just thinking about some ships we believers can sail in our daily journeys with our Lord. The gospel of Mark says, “And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships” (Mark 4:36).
• Relationship — The very first ship a believer boards with Jesus is that of relationship. I believe relationship is one of the most important words in the English language. Once a person places faith in Jesus as Savior, that individual enters an eternal relationship with God through Jesus. It becomes a family affair — the believer is part of the family of God.
• Followship — When Jesus was calling His gathering, His church, He first called three fishermen. His invitation was, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt. 4:19 NIV1984). Once believers have an everlasting relationship, the next step is to dedicate themselves to followship. But Christ does not want us to straggle at a distance from Him, but to follow closely to Him.
• Discipleship — Disciples are learners. The Lord is the Master Teacher, who has called others to teach others. The teacher must first have been a learner and followed Christ’s instructions. Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:29-30). The Lord often taught His followers while on a ship (a boat), but their discipleship continued on dry land, and then they taught others who taught others, and you and I are now journeying in discipleship as a result.
• Hardship — This is one ship most want to avoid. However, those who truly have a relationship with Christ and follow Him faithfully as disciples will find that in the Christian journey, there are hardships. True followers can expect hardship (trouble or suffering) as we dedicate ourselves to serving Him. Paul wrote the church at Rome, “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Rom. 5:3-4).
Life’s Seas Can Be Frightful or Calm
Our Lord definitely boarded boats often in His earthly ministry. But He did so to build relationships with those who would believe in Him. He urged them to follow Him with hearts of devotion. He discipled them so that from them, the ministries of evangelism and discipleship might reach us today. And, yes, He even told us in His Word that sailing in life would not always be easy.
One of His greatest teachings was while He and the apostles were sailing. What started out as a calm sea turned treacherous as a huge storm came up. Jesus had gone to sleep in the stern. That furious storm caused hearts to fear and hardship to confront them. They quickly awoke the Lord, crying and asking Jesus if He even cared if they drowned. Then they saw Him do His amazing work and heard Him say something special — “He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down, and it was completely calm” (Mark 4:39).
