The Coolidge examiner., 1938-12-29

!
AS we embark on the New Year,
we gather in our Bible schools to
take up an interesting series Of
studies on the life and work of
Peter. The life story Of any great
and useful man is worthy of our
careful study. The life of Peter has
| peculiar interest because he was so
intensely human, and yet so glori-
ously used of God.
Our lesson for today starts at the
right point, for we meet Peter when
he as Simon first met the Lord. He
was mature man by that time,
successful in business and settled"
in life. but with him (as with us) life
did not really begin until he met the
Lord Jesus
1. He Was Brought to Christ John
l:40-42).
Andrew. Of whom we know but
little, is a character greatly beloved
because having found the Christ he
at once set out to bring his brother
to Him. He probably did not know
that in bringing his rough fisherman
brother to the Lord he was bringing
one of the leaders of all time. The
important thing is that he brought
him.
The history of the Church abounds
with the stories of humble men and
women who have been used to win
others to Christ, who have in turn
been greatly used for Him. Think
of the humble man who led Spur
geon to Christ, the Sunday School
teacher who dealt with Moody, the
simple but earnest Moravians who
won Wesley-and be encoura ged.
You may have someone near you
who may be awaiting your word to
bring him to Jesus.
III. He Was Given a New Name
John 1:42).
Simon. meaning ''to hear" is
changed to Peter, which means
rock" The blessed Lord who in
His omniscience knew what the
change in Peters heart was to
mean in his life, gave him a new
name to fit his new character.
What blessed truth it is that God
in Christ can and will take the blus-
tering fisherman and transform all
of his good qualities into power and
usefulness for Himself. Thus God
who knows just what we are is
ready and willing to make us what
we ought to be in Christ. Have you
gone through the experience of hav-
ing Christ say: Thou art thou
shalt be?" 1t may mean that you
have passed through or will pass
through the pressing experiences
which are needed to weld together
your characteristics into rock"
but if it is Gods hand that makes
the change you will find it to be all
joy.
Ill. His Occupation Was Changed
duke Slid.
Christ had chosen Peter as one of
those who should forsake all and fol-
low Him, as one of His disciples in
the inner circle of the Twelve. Note
how graciously He carries out His
purpose. One day as He stands to
teach on the shore of the sea of
Galilee the crowd presses Him. and
He steps into boat and asks the
boatman to put out from the land
And it lust happened to be the
boat of Simon, who had about
year before met the Lord and re-
ceived the new name of Peter.
Such things do not happen The
destinies of men are in the hands
of God. The day and hour for
Peters call had come, and here he
was to be taught by Jesus through
a miraculous draught of fish that
he was to be fisher of men. Gods
clock always runs on time. Remem-
Der that, and also be assured that
if you are His child not even the
simplest happening" in your life
is unknown to Him. He who num-
bers the hairs on our heads, He
who observes the fall of a sparrow,
is not lacking in loving interest and
care for His children.
Had our lesson been deliberately
chosen for a New Years message
it could hardly have been more ap-
propriate. To the one who knows
not Christ as Saviour there is an
invitation to begin the New Year by
coming to Him. To the Christian
there is the admonition to do as
Andrew did-bring your brother or
friend to Christ. We are not all
called to leave our daily work and
become full-time Christian workers,
but every believer should be a SOUL
winner. To the one who has heard
the call of God to leave his nets
and follow the Lord in full-time
service, here is the urgent renew
ing of that call. Step out in faith
now and follow Him. To the church
or religious worker discouraged by
the failure of a social or ethical
program here is the lesson and ex-
ample of a life changed by personal
contact with the Lord Jesus.