Peter Learned His Lesson

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. Luke 22:31, 32.
Bold, aggressive, and self-confident, quick to perceive and forward to act, prompt in retaliation yet generous in forgiving, Peter often erred, and often received reproof. Nor were his warmhearted loyalty and devotion to Christ the less decidedly recognized and commended. Patiently, with discriminating love, the Saviour dealt with His impetuous disciple, seeking to check his self-confidence, and to teach him humility, obedience, and trust. But only in part was the lesson learned…. Over and over again was given the warning, “Thou shalt … deny that thou knowest me.” It was the grieved, loving heart of the disciple that spoke out in the avowal, “Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.” …
When in the judgment hall the words of denial had been spoken; when Peter’s love and loyalty, awakened under the Saviour’s glance of pity and love and sorrow, had sent him forth to the garden where Christ had wept and prayed; when his tears of remorse dropped upon the sod that had been moistened with the blood drops of His agony—then the Saviour’s words, “I have prayed for thee” … were a stay to his soul. Christ, though foreseeing his sin, had not abandoned him to despair.
If the look that Jesus cast upon him had spoken condemnation instead of pity; if in foretelling the sin He had failed of speaking hope, how dense would have been the darkness that encompassed Peter! …
He who could not spare His disciple the anguish, left him not alone to its bitterness. His is a love that fails not nor forsakes. Human beings, themselves given to evil, are prone to deal untenderly with the tempted and the erring. They cannot read the heart, they know not its struggle and pain. Of the rebuke that is love, of the blow that wounds to heal, of the warning that speaks hope, they have need to learn….
A miracle of divine tenderness was Peter’s transformation. It is a life lesson to all who seek to follow in the steps of the Master Teacher.
Conflict and Courage p. 313
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Prayer Requests
—–July 15th a girl named Emmy will be having a pancreas transplant in Minneapolis..please pray her and her surgery. Eva
—–Ruby just learned she has a grade 3 sarcoma on her her right leg and will be determining care plan in the next couple of weeks. She is asking for prayers that God’s will is done. Eudine
—–Please pray for my mother Sandi. She has a lot of pain from a slipped disk, and needs hip replacement. Melanie
—–Please pray for Carol who is feeling overwhelmed and discouraged. Rose
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Dear Friends,
My grandmother had two sisters. They were about as opposite as any two people could be. Blanche was naturally refined and lady-like. She was not self-centered but was very loving and kind and a real joy to be around. I always felt good, just being around her.
Bessie, on the other hand, was a very comical character that seemed to be slightly out of sync with life. No matter what the situation, she would unintentionally say the wrong things at the wrong times. Usually this turned out very funny. She did have one annoying habit, however, that caused the rest of the family a lot of stress. She never was prepared for anything. She would wait until everyone else was ready to go somewhere before she would decide what to wear. She wouldn’t just look at the dresses in her closet and grab one: she would try each one on. This took a great deal of time and caused the whole family to be late for everything. No matter where they had planned to go, by the time Bessie was ready, their outing was spoiled.
Just as Bessie was unprepared for everything, so we there is a danger that we will be unprepared for the final events of this world’s history. God’s Holy Word warns us that there will be many who were planning to meet Jesus , who will mournfully cry, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” Jer 8:20 They had always intended to follow God completely. They always wanted to be saved, but they just never got around to it. They were not willing to give themselves completely to Him. Self stayed upon the throne of their heart. They loved the things of this world too much. They held on to that “darling sin” too long.
Our Dear Saviour told the parable of some who appeared to be followers of His, but they were lacking that closeness to the Loving Saviour, that uniting of their heart and will to His Great Heart of Love, that oil of the Holy Spirit flowing out through themselves to others. “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so, lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” Matt 25:1-13
Now is the time to be watchful as we are waiting for the Bridegroom. Now is the time to “give diligence to make your calling and election sure.” 2 Peter 1:10 Now is the time to be “reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Cor 5:20,21 Now is the time to accept that Wonderful Grace that He so freely offers. Now is the time to make sure all of our sins have been washed away by the Blood of the Lamb. Now is the time to reach out to those around us and bring them to the foot of the cross that they, too, may be saved. “He which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” James 5:20 Yet this promise must not be out motive. Our motive should be a love for those around us who are perishing in sin and a love for our dear Saviour Who desires their salvation.
May we make sure we have the oil of the Holy Spirit in our vessels. May we be ready when “the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God.” 1 Thes 4:16 “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:” but let us give ourselves freely to the One Who loves us so. Ps 95:6-8
Rose