The Topeka state journal., 1919-10-24

waves, they were greatly alarmed.
9 1t is a spirit they exclaimed, and
they cried out with terror. e.
But instantly Jesus spoke to them,
and said:
There is no danger; it is I; do not
be afraid
Master answered Peter. If it is
you, bid me come to you upon the
water
:. Come said Jesus.
Then Peter climbed down from the
boat and walked upon the water to
go to him. But when he felt the wind
he grew frightened, and beginning to
sink he cried out:
Master, save me-
Instantly Jesus stretched out his
hand and caught hold of him. saying
to him,
".oh, little faith, why did you
doubt?'
so they climbed into the boat and
the wind Iulled; and the men on board
fell down before him and said,
You are indeed Gods Son."
A Miracles Message.
sidney Lanier was taught by. the
dark of the trees that
"Haply we know somewhat more than
we knows"
So the disciples learned on the lake
that the Jesus they followed was
more than the Jesus they followed: !:
He was greater than their thought of
Him. Even when afar, He was near:
for the electric call OF their need
brought Him to their side when help
seemed most impossible. He is the
helper for a crisis
Even now he would come in visible
y. -xrr
it not that His representatives and
helpers. in pulpit and school-room
and home and halls of legislation, are
standing in His stead, speaking His
word, doing His work, extending His
help. Such is the suggestion that
comes to me from New York busi-
ness man, whose name is known the
nation over as a financial force,
though his interest in religion is under
stood only by limited circle Thi>
optimistic idea, that Jesus is so we'll
represented on earth today that His
personal presence is not essential for
the carrying out of His program, is
ing to keep the trust which has been
committed to them.
What Of Peters presumption
Should not his audacity have been
'rebuked? Well, Jesus did not rebuke.
but encouraged him. In adventures
of faith, God is never the first to say
step" He encourages initiative in
greater than our most daring drafts
Did not Jesus continually stress the
pre-eminence of faith in his training
OF his disciples? His prayer for them
and for the church, was, Lord. In
crease our faith" When the Son Oh
Man returns we are told, his first
interest will be whether he shall find
faith in the earth. Every exhibition
of confidence in God is met more than
halfway by God himself.
"who goes n step toward God, thru doubt
ings dim.
God goes a mile, thru blazing light, to
him.
When One Is "AlI at sea-
If T-were looking into the eyes OF
all the vast company of diversified
folk who are reading this Lessony and
could ask, What is the gravest sin OF
today?''. should receive a wide va
fiety of answers Really, tho. the sin
of sins in our own times is simply
lack of faith. 1t is what sent Peter
sinking beneath the waves, until res
>cued by the outstretched hand of the
Master-Peter who had begun to
think of himself and his difficulties
when he should have thought only OF
his sufficient Lord 20 little faith
why did you doubt" is the divine re-
buke that pierces to the core of most
of our difficulties.
When "ali at sea-" take Christ
aboard. Therein IS the sovereign rem
edy for the distresses of individual
lives and of the world at large. Had
Jesus been given a place at the peace
table, think you the quick-ripenine
harvest of selfishness would have been
sown? Today, were the nations; to
seek first the kingdom of God and his
righteousness. how quickly real peace
would come to this suffering world
Ship of state, and tiny lifecraft, alike
need to take aboard the Master. whose
power is equal to the quelling of all
storms.