The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1900-07-11


me.''-MATT. xvi 20.
JULY 22.-Matt. xvi. 1926.
After healing the Gentle woman's daughter Jesus
went to the region of Decapos, where he healed
deaf and dumb and many others and fed null
titude of four thousand He then crossed the sea to
the vicinity OF Magdala Here Pharisees and Saddu-
ces came demanding a sign Soon he departed by
boat, and coming to Bethsada he healed blind man.
Thence he went to the region of C9sarea Philippi,
the scene of to-day's lesson.
No more important question can be asked than.
What think We of Christi" 1t matters little to us
personally what others think of him. We cannot be
saved by any other ones faith, nor can any ones
wrong opinion about Christ rob us of the blessings
OF salvation, If own faith in him be firm and
true Yet it is very important that we have right
thoughts about Christ If we consider him onlv
good man, he cannot deliver us in temptation. nor
keep us in the worlds and dangers nor bring
us home at last to glory
The new name which Christ gave to Simon is very
suggestive 1t means rock 1t was not true de-
scrlptlon OF Simon as he at the beginning but it
toretold what he would become through the influence
of divine grace We should all seek to become rock
Christians. Christ wants disciples who can be abso-
utely depended upon, into whose hands he can COM
mt sacred trusts, knowing that they will be faithful
We need more Peters, rock Christians, against
whom the very gates of hell cannot prevail
Christ gave the keys of the kingdom of heaven to
Peter and the other apostles. Keys are for opening
doors. The apostles were to go out into the world
telling men everywhere of the love of God Thus
they were to open the of Gods grace to all
men and TO lead into the family of God all who would
accept Christ. Every true Christian has put into
his hands bundle of keys with which he may open
store-houses of blessing to any who will enter We
do not dream of the power of doing good to others
which even the humblest of possess With the in
fuence of sympathy and love we may unlock hearts
and make place in them for Christ.
We must be careful in our love for our friends
lest we act Satan's part with them That is what
Peters love made him do to his Master. When Je-
sus said that he must suffer and die Peter took him
as to restrain him by force and said that this should
not must not be- Jesus promptly answered. however
Get thee behind me, Satan; thou art stumbling
block unto me-" Peter was doing Satan's work in
trying to keep Jesus back from his cross Gods way
for him. If a friend of ours is called to some dan
gerous duty or to some sore self-denia and in our
love we try to keep him back we are tempting him,
at least making his duty harder for him and posi-
bly, turning him back from Gods way altogether
For the disciples, as we'll as for the Master the
way of the cross is the way to life We must denv
ourselves, take up cross and go after Jesus De-
nying ones self is not going without something VIC
would like to have, giving up something we eniov
doing something hard, merely for the sake of hard
ness Selfdenal is putting Christ on the throne in
stead OF self. If we seek comfort and case
instead Of doing our duty. we seem to be saving orr
life but in reality are losing it. It is only when
we pour out our life in service of love for Christ that
we truly save our life. What we empty out for him.
we shall find again by and by.