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THE KING’S BUSINESS
“MY GIRLS”
By Mrs. H. J. Baldwin.
TV/TR. MOODY was once aboard ship dur- A ing a terrific storm. Most passen gers rushed frantically up and down the deck imploring help. Mr. Moody quietly read Psalm 107:23-31, then went calmly to bed and to sleep. Mr. Moody had learned - to rest in Christ. From early morning until evening, Christ had patiently taught the multitude clamor ing about Him, weary, for doubtless He had not stopped for food, (3:20),;, yet grieved because o f their hard hearts, He bade His disciples pass to the other side. He had been teaching from the boat, so they took Him, as He was not waiting for food or wraps. W e are not told whether they did not observe the storm approaching, or whether the storm arose suddenly as so oftenly occurred, because Lake Galilee lay 600 feet below ocean level and was surrounded by steep mountains. Picture vividly the fury o f the storm lashing the little boat, the waves dashing so high that in spite o f the efforts o f its crew, it was about to sink. Where was Christ? W e love to think that not only was Christ God, but He was human. He knew what it was to be weary, hungry and sleepy—to experience all of our sinless infirmities. He lay down in weakness, a worn-óut man. He arose in His might, very God. “ All things have been created through Him—and in Him all things hold together” (Col. 1:16, 17). Christ did not create anything that He cannot control. The elements are His ser vants. He, the Master, need only speak and wind and sea obey. These friends had been with Christ con stantly for months. With love, tenderness and compassion they had seen Christ meet the need o f every one who had come to Him. They now are in need. They accuse Him o f not caring about them and by their actions insinuate that their need is too much for Him. They had accepted Him as their Saviour and yet they hadn’t
the faith to let him save them in the unlooked-for trial. How like them we let Christ b’e Saviour for our past but not for our present. When the storms o f impa tience, temper, anger, disappointment, or burden arise we treat Christ as if these difficulties were too much for Him. We may even charge Him with not caring, else He would not allow them to come to us. This grieves Christ. Since Christ had said, Let us pass to the other side,” how could the disciples question their safe arrival? Who met Christ when ashore? W e shud der to think that Satan can literally live within us controlling, deceiving, and work ing sin in us and through us. But the Bible declares it (John 8:44; 1 Peter 5:8; 2 Cor. 4:4 ). Notice the end to which Satan had brought this man (vs. 4, 5). Without home, disgraced, unsafe, abusive and wrecked. Doubtless the man had little real ized that he would ever come to such a state. Nptice the strange double personality, one moment the man speaks, the next the demon. He realized that body and soul were being destroyed. He wanted to be free and yet he resisted every effort to free him. He was Satan-bound. Man is no match for Satan. Man’s only help is to flee to Christ. Then Christ, the Almighty, rescues his victim from Satan the mighty. Observe that it was the demon that recog nized Christ and called Him by name. Notice how entirely demons are subject to Christ. One cannot even enter a hog without Christ’s permission. Imagine the happy home, as this man returned to wife and children. No longer anger or cruelty, only love and kindness. What objections did sdme citizens make to Christ? (v. 7).. In God’s balance a single soul outweighs all the wealth o f the world (Mark 8:36). But these folks wanted gold and hogs rathfer than souls and Christ. “A knock at the door—a little sin, W e opened and all hell was in.”
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