Evening star., 1920-02-28
BY REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON

! walked.'-1 John. 2.6.
BY REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON.
Peter reveals in this epistle. from
which the lesson has been selected.
that he has become filed with the
spirit of Christ. 1t was sent to the
members OF the Christian churches
throughout Asia Minor, who were fac
ing the trials Of persecution shortly
before his own death. for the glory
of the Lord Jesus. In the coming test
of their faith Peter recognized that
there would be more than the bitter
personal struggle for conquest over
the ordinary temptations to sensual
living or contests with the conserva-
tive element, who sought to conf1de
Christianity to Mosaic ritual. The
growing opposition of the govern
ment. that was destined to reach its
climax in the bitter. bloody persecution
under Nero and Domitian proved that
Gods own people scattered over the
earth were passing through great
trials that demonstrated the reality
of their faith He called upon them
to rejoice in the testing trials be-
cause faith is tried that it may be
found to result in praise and glory
and honor at the reappearing Of Jesus
Christ"
Peter is trying by his sympathetic
words of counsel, consolation and
comfort to fill the Christians with
faith amid sorrow and suffering. He
pointed out that their trial would only
be for a short time He summons
all that profess faith to practice their
profession in accordance with the
pattern that they have in the life of
their risen Lord. He saw in their suf-
fering an opportunity to live amid
suffering truly Christian life worthy
Of the ideals presented by the gospel
of the Lord Jesus. He called for them
to brave the contempt Of their trial
and endure the bitter hardness of the
moment because they had been be
gotten again by Gods everything and
enduring word from a germ not OF
perishable. but of imperishable life"
"Brotherly love" was one of the
strongest characteristics of the early
church. In the hour of trial Peter
! understood the danger Of selfshness
entering into the life of the Christian
and by it's presence destroying its
unity. In the opening chapter, which
is one of the great ones of the New
Testament. Peter pointed out the VAL
| ue of their salvation by emphasizing
some of the elements Of the life that
! produces "brotherly love"-the COM
mon possession of the incorruptible
inheritance that is reserved In heaven
their loveof the unseen Christ: their
faith in Him securing their salvation
because He had ransomed them with
His precious blood. This new life
produced "brotherly love-" which call
/ ed for the correcting of ones personal
! life by sloughing off the sins of the
past life. Every Christian must lay
| aside "all i'll will and all deceitful-
ness, or insincerity and envy, and all
! evil speaking" since they have a ten
dency to weaken true brotherly love.
Christian life develops by being fed
upon the Word Of God, who gives life
| and builds life up in all who build
upon His foundation. He makes them
! blameless So that He may make OF
! If following the custom of the priests
| of the temple they are called upon to
| offer up spiritual sacrifices" they
! must live a pure life. The true priest
| seeks to live blameless life. The
power of Christian life is determined
| not by the profession of Christianity,
! but by living it. 1t is not profession.
| but the practice of the Christian vir-
! tues that gives power to the one
| whose life presents Christ to men
The priest represents God to the peo-
pie and the people to God. Living the
pure life gives one the supreme con-
ISOLATION of the approval of their own
! conscience and the favor of God. No
| one can present any stronger power
! for the Christ. aside from His own
character. than the living of a blame!
less life. Thers, is positive force
even those who prosecuted the fol-
! lowers of Christ, to see the evil in
I their own life and turn them to God.
In urging them to live a stainless
| life and endure hardness if called
upon by persecution. Peter pointed to
, He considered that the sufferings Of
| the disciples were only faint refiec-
| tion of the sufferings of the Christ.
| II they would consider the trials of
their faith from the standpoint of the
Master, Peter believed that they would
outlook upon life. They were to treat
| the world when they were misjudged
and reviled by initiating the example
of Christ Jesus. When called upon to
| endure trials they should realize, as
| all Christians ought to do today. that
| such tairls-serve to bring them
into closer fellowship with the Lord.
One cannot follow the example of
Christ unless one follows the Lord in
! His prayer life. The Masters life Of
intercession and constant communion
| has furnished to all the key that
to live the spotless, simple, strong
Christian life which Peter urged the
followers Of the Lord Jesus to live
1t will enable one to lay aside the
sins Of selfishness. that produces ill
| will. deceitfulness. insincerity, envy
| and evil speaking. Through prayer
one will secure strength to overcome
the low cravings of the natural life
and fill ones soul with cravings for
! spiritual life and thirst for the word
of God so that one can grow and con-
quer the spirit of animosity against
all personal enemies. Christ revealed
this spirit in His prayer for His enc
mics upon the cross.
While Peter evidently planned to
encourage the Christians to stand
up for Jesus in the trial of their
ing the value of the Christian life,
J the power of goodness, the closer
fellowship with Christ that resulted
from the testing of their religion. the
lesson committee has assigned this
for the quarters temperance lesson.
In emphasizing the obligation to live
a blameless life there is included the
duty to live temperance life.
With the demobilization of the
brotherhood is disappearing The
Christian owes it to his fellow man
to live life free from cravings of
the lower nature, like that for in
toxicating drinks. and also to help
create the sentiment favorable to all
laws and movements that seek to
build up the spiritual forces which
furnishes the only hope that the
world can secure what Prof. James
war" This calls for life of self
denial. sacrificial service and spiritual
fellowship that will crush the spirit
of selfishnees. that would again fet-
ter humanity with the chains of
strong drink.