Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-25
BY REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON.

During the last quarter. we have
considered in our studies the life, Ia
Dor and letters of Peter. If we except
the Lord Jesus, there is no more popu'
lar personality introduced to the world
in connection with Christianity early
days than the apostle. who has been
the theme of our studies the last three
months. Perhaps it is due to the TACT
that most people can find in the ca
reer of "the exalted fisherman"
points Of failure similar to their own.
Every Christian, who studies the life
of Peter, finds encouragement In the
fact that Christ gave such a large
place in molding early Christian his
tory to such an impulsive. inconsistent
and irrepressible personality. If our
Lord could change him into "a man
of rock" and use him in extending
His kingdom among men, then he can
use in spite of our weakness, in His
work.
Jesus recognized the possibilities in
Peter at his conversion, when He pre-.
dicted that Simon would be called
"Cephas is to say, Peter Tor
Rocky. The Master saw that he was
qualified by nature to become a domi.
nant leader in the building up of His
Church, or He would not have called
him to quit his fishing business and
become a disciple in the Apostolic Col
lege, where he would learn how to take
''men alive" Jesus confirmed His pre-
diction concerning the place Simon
was destined to hold in connection
with the establishment of the church
among men, at Peters confession of
his faith in Jesus as the Messiah and
Son of the living God. Our Lord rec
ognized that the strength Of the apos-
ties personality, that fitted him for
leadership among the disciples, might
be the source of his weakness. He
knew that ones strongest point may
be his weakest. Evidently it was to
that element in Peters character to
which he referred when Andrew
brought his brother to Jesus, who as
sured the rugged fisherman, whose
career had been marked by f1ckleness
and inconsistency, that his character
would be transferred into rock.
Peters Spiritual Development.
Peter revealed. another element in
his personality, when he Immediately
left his fishing business in response to
the Masters call for him to follow Him
and learn how to take "men alive"
The impulsiveness of the apostle was
due to his quick vision, that grasped
in a moment what ought to be done
and straightway did it. He commenced
to show as a disciple the qualities that
marked his apostolic efforts. He was
always ready to do the Lords will and
work. Straightway, forthwith, and
Immediately characterized Peters at
titude toward the Lord. Our studies
have revealed how through his init.
mate fellowship with the Master and
the leadership of the Holy Spirit the
apostle cast aside the infirmities of his
old life and became the rock" that
stood like Gibraltar amidst the fires of
persecution and the perils of preach
ing the Gospel to all nations.
Slowly, but surely, the inconsistent
c1eS OF his nature were transformed
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
He exhibited cowardice when he
walked upon the sea and took his eyes
off the Christ, but he exhibited the
courage Of a lion in his devotion to
his Lord. Imprisonment could not
curb or hinder him from preaching
religious liberty and being loyal to
Christ. He revealed courage in break
ing from the former prejudices and
the influence Of the ever present en-.
vironment of Jerusalem. In an hour
When his intense spirit was apt to be
narrow and conservative, he exhibited
the same courage that he manifested
when he entered the empty tomb and
quickly saw the evidence that Christ
was risen. When the early church
was divided over the teachings of
Jesus and their social application
Peter recognized that it had to purify
itself within and carry the gospel to
the world without. He detected the
fulfillment of the Scriptures at Pente-
cost and the promise of the Christ, and
under the guidance of the Holy Spirit
became an outspoken champion of the
faf.d he la L. -