Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-03-30
OUR LESSONS FROM
THE FORTY DAYS.
Christian Endcavor Topic Ex-
planned by Miss X. r.
Strickland

I he incident before us is ono of the
! most interesting IN our Iords post
| resurrection appearances. for here we
| have the final step in Peter = restoration
| To fellowship Peters fall began some
| days before with boastfulness lie had
| virtually professed to love the Lord more
| than any Of the other disciples loved him
| Mat. 2f:33). The child Of God may
| indeed make his boast in the Lord, and
| think and speak much Of Code love for
| him; but he is on dangerous ground when
| he makes much of his love for God In
| stead Of singing, 20. How Love JeslIsl'
let him rather sing. 20 Love That wilt
| Not Let Me Gop'
We next find Peter, and on the Same
| night Of his boast, failing to watch and
pray Mat 26 40, Al, A21. OF cOuusei
| What need was there for watchfulnes5
and prayer ON the part Of him who loved
| his Lord SO much? Al the backaidine
process is we'll under way now. and he
| that "thinketh ho atandcth'' must needs
| have tumble before he take heed lost
he fall
Peter himself seems very soon to
| realize that something IS wrong. but
| instead Of taking the ono way back to
fellowship for q SHINING saint, which ls
| confession 4 Ino / o., he. as many
| do something lie has been caught nap
ping and he proceeds forthwith, by IN
creased fleshly activity. to show his zeal
| for his Lord Ino ISi04 When We
work in this spirit. We binder rather than
| help Peters conduct brought forth
| only rehuke from lesrls. md all The
procedures of that dread night were
| halted while he undd what Peter hid
done tLk. y ii
| Peter now follows the Lord indeed but
| it is tafar off TX. 22.j4j Distance from
| him spells danger The child Of Cod is
| exhorted 70 draw nigh, and there is
safety only as We follow him closely
Peter goes to tho bottom in the three
| fold open denial of his Lord that quickly
| follows Instead of ~ hia IorIa side
We find him IN company with his Lords
enemts. first standing among them (Jnn
| 1919. and then sitting IN their midst
| Tx 2I55 nn won think he successfully
warmed himself at the fire that night
/ No Poor Peter Tfc was cold. so cold.
inside and ont. and the rest was easY
| he three denied that he even knew the
man And tho Lord turned, and Looked
upon Peter @ tho pity, tho yearnng,
! the infinite love. m that look What
| wonder that orr hlacksliddrn disciple
''went ont. and wepf bitterly TX
| p fl. 62 And what must have been
| the agony Of the days that followed
| The next morning he saw his bnloved
| Lord. tho sinIees Sin Bearrr nailed to the
cross @ ~ go to HIM q 10 pour ont his
| heart IN oontrltion before him Rut no.
| his was temporarily denied him, and
| thrne agonizing davs followed while
| Jesus lav IN The alunhers Of death II
/ Is not surprising that. an the resurrection
| rnnrning. when the wonderful news was
| brought by Mary Ia Peter and John.
and tlcy ran both together to the
| sepulchre. the other disciple did ottrrn
| Peter Ino 70 - Even Peters
| physical strength was gone IN those DAYS
| II bitter. fearful grief
Iiut Tesus had risen No wonder that
| Peter writing later Of this great event.
| savs that tiod tho Father "begat as again
| unto a living hope by the resurrection of
| Tes,ls Christ from the dead II Pet. 81
On that resurrection dav Jesus had
| personal. private interview with Peter
Tx "a n Cor t5.j and let 1s
tread softly hcre and shut the door
Where is the chld of God who dnes not
know what went on ut that interview
But something more was needed.
Potter had openly denied has Lord. he.
must openly confess him. He had thricee
denied he must three confess, and this
fhreefold con fession we find IN the passage
before us tJno u 15-I7i
Hear him. Our gracious Lord. Simon,
son Of Jonas, lowest thou me more
than these" more than these others
love me- He had but lately said he
dd But 1t is very different Peter
who now meeJv answers. Yea. Lord.
thou inowest that have m affection for
thee FOR lowest, Jesus used the
strong word "agapas, but Peter, fearing
now lest he should boast, uses the weaker
word "philo. The same ls true IN the
second question aud answer. But IN
the third. Jesus comes down, rs 10 were,
to the level of hls contrlte, trembling
disciple, and says. "Slmon. son Of Jonas.
hast thou an affection for mc2' And
Peter WAS gr1eved (ah, once Jesus was
gricved), as he lays bare his inmost heart
in the words, Lord, thou knowest all
things les. Jesus did know: he knew
all the time that Peter truly loved hlm. but
Peter had a lesson to learn, and so the
faithful Teacher would not deslst until
the lesson had been learned.
30 completely is Peter restored TO
fellowship that he is appointed q shepherd
of the sheep, while he himself Is exhortcd d
to follow the Chief Shepherd. and he
follows. not now indeed afar off.
but very very closely. in the blessed con
seriousness of his helpleSsness and need
II is precious to remember that Peter
restoration began even before his fall.
For ON chat night when he made the
foolish boast and Jesus warned him Of
that which was about to follow, he added.
But | have prayed for thee, that thy
faith fail not lLk 22:32). o living.
loving interceding Saviour We thank
thee that even now thou dost appear
iii the presence Of God for US Heb 9:24)
that when we stumble and fall, we have
an advocate with the Father, Jesus
Christ the righteous = Jno. 2:n. We
thank thee that thou didst once appear
Ito put away sin, and that thou wilt
appear the second tine without sin unto
salvation Heb 926,2Sl Even so.
come. Lord Jesus
Endeayorers have you heard people
sav, when asked 10 do "A little something
for God. through Christian Endeavor
The pressure Of other work Is So great
really do not have bit Of time Just
lake note Of such person and you will |
most always find that they find time for
other things. and is there any reason |
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