Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-13
Sunday School Lesson for June IA Discussed
by Rev. ]. E. Gilbert D. D., Secretary
American Society of Religious Education.


try he would beo,m me the victim Of perse-
uupns ms hSerty weld be taken asaF.
ne wou DE bound = ad Compelled L. SUI
nj, {" The vrl of ~ lers.
FOLLOW MET was in one sense
gloomy outlook that Wa thus pr scented
20 this man. lie nad declared his owe
even with sorrow that II sh, uld lie ques-
toned. lie had been freely. forgiven tor
his denials by his Lord ana he had re-
ceiyed again the commission that had
been forfeited. All that might well haze
sladdened mis- heart But new, 10 he ar
Inc ou-t ONE Of ths-oppos.tion. persecu-
lion. bonds, even death l,self-@as enou sh
to test the man : faith ana Loyalty. Many
would shrink lack ana beg 10 he excused.
No wonder the test had been three times
applied 10 :he heart. No one would We
firm unless the heart was s'rong. lmme-
diately Jes US spoke two words TO strength
IN the will and put the case in its true
night. Follow me. surely Peter wound
not hesitate ii what he had protested was
true. Why should he hesitate? Need he
expect lot better than his Masters
tAatt.. X:23). Here comes then the rule
OF mis- life. He had seen Jesus under all
circums ances-persecuted. killed and
risen. He must follow in tn same steps
o be minister.
CURIOSITY ARoU sED-It has been
thought that q part of this interview be-
tween Jesus and Peter was private. that
If they began in the presence Of others
hey went forth 10 walk and commune
disciple Jesus loved, John. as il is believed
John. Niii:cJ, SO mentioned elsewhere.
seeing him following. Pc err asked, What
shall this man do? Various contectures
have been made to the motive which
prompted this abrupt depression in the
conversation. Ii has been suggested that
Peter was emil arrassed by the extremely
personal character Of the convers alton,
and that he desired to direct attention
from himself by calling another into the
company 1t has been thought that he
understood the remarks of jesus APP
plying o the hardships to be encountered
by the apostles generally. and on that ac-
count was curious to know what would
be the fate of the beloved John, whether
the portion of one would be more faNo!d-
BILE than that of the o;her. whether in
fact his own lot was to be peculiarly for
tunate.
Personal LOYALTY.-whateve
may have prompted the question il WAS
altogether improper IL revealed dis
position too common among men to med
die with the affairs of others and neglect
their own. This habit units one for reso
lutte and well directed effort-it blinds II
the duty of the hour. and weakens the en-
ergy needed to achieve success. Peter must
be cured of this if he is TO do the Lords
service. He must know that every man
has his peculiar outfit for a certain sta
ton which he must fill regardless OF all
others (Acts. iN:6D. Jesus therefore re-
sorted TO stern measures. What is that
TO thee? he said. you have nothing 10
do with Johns work or destiny. even
though he should live TO see the second
coming, and you had better dismiss shat
matter entirely from your thoughts. Give
good heed to your part That is enough
to absorb all your energies and time
Press into ii with entire conservation.
Personal loyalty is demanded. Follow
thou me-" That was the meaning OF
the MESSAGE.
REFL ECTIONS.-1. Every one who
attempts to serve Christ must love Him.
and must be sure that love is genuine and
abiding Self-examination is therefore
necessary. What can a shepherd of the
sheep do without love for Jesus? IL he
love the honors and emoluments only he
is unworthy and Incompetent .. True
service for Christ consists in following in
His footsteps. doing what He would do.
at least what He would have done. sur
rendering the will to His will g. Faithful
discharge of duty in the service of Christ
often brings pain and personal loss. but
this must be accepted with resignation
and composure as part of the reward
which He gives. but always in His name
and spirit. 4. The servant of Christ must
be single in his aim and effort. dismiss
ing from the mind those questions that
lead away from the performance OF pres
emit duty. Fellow-workers. indeed. men
must be. but each for himself must render
whole-hearted service.