The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-04-30
CHRIsTs CHARGE TO PETER

permission.
CHRISTS CHARGE TO PETER
LESSON TExT-John 2i:15.24.
GOLDEN TExT-Greater love hath no
man than this. that man lay down his
life for his friends.--John 1913.
Breakfast for a hungry fisherman
that Is what our loving and
thoughtful Lord had provided on the
shore of Galilee. He wanted to talk
to Peter, but He knew this was need
full first. There are some folk who
think that following Christ Is dole
full matter, devoid of every pleasure.
Jesus never taught any such thing.
He attended weddings and dinners
even in the homes of those despised
by men. But remember that He al
ways did it for their spiritual good,
not merely for His own enjoyment;
and that He always brought the gath
ering up to His own spiritual level,
rather than STOPPING to any worldly
or wicked standards.
Here we find Him with glowing
fire upon which fish is broiling, and
with bread ready for these hungry
men. 1t was just like Him thus to
meet in most delightful and salts
flying fellowship those who serve
Him. Draw up to the fire, Christian
friends who are standing afar off.
You may be so timid that, like the
disciples, you will not dare to call
Him by name ". 12), but if you will
come, you will find that the precious
fellowship will soon warm your
heart.
With the meal over, Christ turned
to Peter and in their conversation
we find the latter required to
1. Face Responsibility wv. 15-l7.
With kindly persistence our Lord
brought Peter face to face with his
responsibility of full-hearted devotion
to Him. Before service can be rem
dered there must be right relation
ship to the Lord.
Three times Peter was asked to
declare his love for Christ. Such
public confession was quite in place,
before the man who had thrice de-
MED his Lord was restored to place
of leadership. The words more
than these ". 15) indicate that
Jesus was asking Of him high
measure Of devotion. 1t is no more
than He has right to expect of us.
The conversation after breakfast
that morning was a very profitable
one. One is reminded, by contrast,
that few of our mealtime discussions
are very useful. Many (perhaps
most) after-dinner speeches and
conversations yield little profit. Here
is an occasion when such was not
the case. One wonders whether we
would not be wise to take the sug-
gestion and turn our thoughts and
those of our dinner guests to spiritu-
al things. Surely it should be SO
among Christian friends and in a
Christian home.
ii. Feeding Christ's Flock wv.
15-17).
We review the same verses to
point out that an expression of love
to Christ means nothing except as
it manifests itself in service. Like
Peter, we are to be diligent about
feeding His flock, whether they be
the young and inexperienced lambs,
or the mature sheep Of the fold.
We tend to specialize. Even In
soul-winning some give themselves
to child evangelism while others
reach only adults, and would hardly
think of dealing with a child. True
it is that we have varying gifts, and
one does one type of work better
than another. But let us avoid over
specialization. Every needy soul il
q challenge to us as we present the
gospel.
The word 'feed" should be
stressed. Here again the church has
frequently failed. Men and women
are won to a decision for Christ, and
then forgotten. Sheep must be fed
if they are to grow. A teaching
ministry must accompany the evan
gelistic effort. They belong together,
and to neglect either is to fail, at
least, in that measure.
iii. Follow Him to the End wv.
1924.
Endlessly ingenious are the de-
vices of Satan. He who had sifted
Peter like wheat (Luke 22:3D and
had rejoiced in the weakness Of his
denial of Christ, now saw him step
ping out into victorious living. He
heard the prophecy Of the martyr
death of Peter. So he put into hts
heart "A question. Whv should he
suffer? What about John? What
was the Lord going to do for him?
When our enemy cannot trip us up
with temptation to personal sin, he
resorts to the device Of jealousy.
Many promising Christian workers
have become useless because they
have taken their eyes off Jesus and
put them on the persons and work
Of other Christians. Doing q work
which was difficult and unnoticed but
very important to God, they have
felt The l1roa fo unit becal,se anu1e.