MAR 6:45 And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.

We have to look at our spiritual life as a voyage over this sea. This is what is being illustrated here: how the Lord works the work of grace in the heart, and how the voyage begins with an irresistible call. Our text speaks of being constrained to get into that ship.

I want to dwell on that word, "constrained," a little. My dictionary says that the word "constrained" means: "to compel or force; to urge with irresistible power, or with a power sufficient to produce the effect." When Christ comes to work His grace in our soul He constrains us, he urges us irresistibly.

Was it of our choosing? No! Was it because we accepted Christ? No! Why were those disciples in that ship? How was it that they set out to sea? The Lord Jesus constrained them. What this means is that He urged them irresistibly. It is an irresistible call. By nature, we are spiritually dead. By nature we have no desire after the Lord. Yet, the Lord comes with an irresistible call, and puts us into this ship, and sets us out to sea in our spiritual life.

In EPH 2:1 it says, "And you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sin." When that quickening power of the Spirit comes in the soul, it is irresistible. The Spirit's conviction of sin in our soul awakens us to the fact that sin separates us from God. Our souls become convicted that we are lost: That we need a Savior.

It says in EPH 2:2-3: "Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and the mind; and were by nature children of wrath, even as others."

By nature we have no desire after the Lord. In our natural state the light of the gospel condemns us. Our Lord Jesus tells us in JOH 3:19-20 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved."

There are none of us that would have ever had a desire to serve the Lord without his irresistible power in our heart, giving us a new desire, bringing our affections in reconciliation with the will of God. It is by God's grace that we start seeing that our sins have separated us from a Holy and a Righteous God. See EPH 2:4-5: "But God..."--mark that--"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace are ye saved.)" It is not by the will of man; it is not by the will of the flesh. It is by the will of God; by grace are ye saved.

Oh, beloved! How often we see things in our lives that we cannot understand, which seem to be such mysteries. What brought about this? What brought us here? What brought us to this hour? Do you know, or realize, it was the grace of God drawing our hearts unto our blessed Saviour?

For all those who are struggling against the forces of evil our blessed Saviour says, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light," MAT 11:28-30.

Our text says He constrained His disciples to get into the ship. He constrained us to come on board this spiritual exercise, this spiritual struggle in our lives. He brought us on this voyage, leading us in the way of salvation. Amen

When peace like a river, attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea-billows roll
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul.