The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1917-01-05

3$:s S **s aRsSysx storm and Toll.
A------'<e= s= The Master
knew the storm was coming when he
sent them out upon that lake to cross
to the other side. 1t may have looked
like fair weather to them. There
may have been no hint from the air
or sky of the coming storm. But all
the time he knew what they were go
ing to meet out there upon the water.
And he knows our way. He is ac-
quainted with every step that lies be-
fore us. We have met no storm that
has not first blown past him and We
may boldly say with the Psalmist of
old, my times are in Thy hands"
We can hear him say as we see the
storm-clouds gathering, "As thy day
so shall thy strength be-" Had
these disciples known it the presence
of the storm was no sign they were
out of his place, and this is as true
for us. But the storm was there and
he had sent them into 1t with it's con-
sequent toll.
Place Of Danger.
place was not because of the toll.
They were doing what they were ac-
customed to do for they were fisher
men on that lake. Neither did their
difficulty and danger come from the
storm. From their long acquaintance
with storms. But their danger arose
because of their loyalty to the Mas
ter's command. He had told them
to go to the other side, knowing that
If they went, they would go against
wind and wave. They may not have
made much progress against the
storm, but at least they were headed
right in the path Of obedience. 1t is
in this path of obedience that the
Christian meets the difficulties. He
finds he must sometimes go against
the storm of public opinion, the wind
that rises in the business world some
times blows contrary to him, and even
liz his home he may meet difficulties
if he obeys the Lord. 1t is compare
lively easy to run with the storm 1t
is difficult to row against it. AS some
one has said, "any dead fish can go
down the stream, only live one can
move against the current"
Place of Safety.
Their safety came not because of
their seamanship. They were going
not only contrary to the wind, but
contrary to their knowledge of how to
handle the boat in such time Of
stress. Had they exercised their sea-
manship they would have turned
about and run before the storm, but
because the Master had said to go for
ward, their loyalty to his command
forbade them seeking safety in dis
obedience. However, they were still
in che place of safety in spite of their
seeming recklessness. Neither were
they safe because of the seaworthi-
ness of their boat. However good the
boat may have been, they were doing
the very thing that their experience
told them would swamp it. But we
are told in verse 4S that the Master
was watching them. He could measure
the weight Of every wave and the
force of every blast Of wind. He
would know just the moment to say
"Peace, be STILL" to both wind and
waves. 1t is not what we see and
know, but what he sees and knows.
He who notes the sparrow's fall and
counts the hairs Of our head will
never place us where the waves are
too mighty or the wind too strong.
He knows what lies before us. He
often sends us into the place Of toll
and storm-the place Of difficulty and
danger-but he is always watching
and because of his watchfulness, our
place, however dangerous, is the place
Of perfect safety.
Place Of Satisfaction.
Finally he comes to them walking
upon the sea and moving against the
contrary wind. He passes through the
wind that was so difficult to them with
perfect ease. The storm ragged about
superior to It all. The measure Of
our obedience to him will be the
measure of our superiority to every
storm, our calmness in every danger,
and our safety In every difficulty. If
this should meet the eye of one Of
Gods tempted ones I'm the midst Of
stress and storm, let him know that
in the midst of the darkness he is
alongside, walking with them against
the contrary wind and saying, "Be Of
good cheer, 1t is I, be not afraid"