Thought for the Week

When the disciples set off to cross the Sea of Galilee, Jesus remained ashore to dismiss, with His blessing, the crowds He had caused to be fed and to have some time to pray by Himself.

Around four o’clock in the morning, the most frightening time at sea when things go wrong, He noticed they were struggling to row against a strong headwind and rising waves.

Not long before, they had experienced a storm in these same waters, but then they had the reassurance Jesus was with them.

This time He was absent. They were even more terrified when they saw what they thought was a ghost walking out to them over the water. It was Jesus, who seemed as if He was going to pass by them.

When they cried out to Him, He joined them in the boat and soon the wind ceased.

If we exclude Jesus from our lives, we really have no claim upon Him, expecting Him to be at our beck and call when we run into trouble.

If we keep Him at a distance, that can be scary; we will never learn how to communicate with Him or come to know Him properly.

He will not force Himself on us if we don’t want Him or have no time for Him and will pass by - Mark 6 v 48.

If He is present with us on the frail voyage we call life, we will not be overwhelmed though the winds howl and the storms rage and a safe arrival on the other shore is assured.

Springbank Church, Campbeltown.