1912 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

1912 Watch Tower - A2Z.org 1912 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

11.07.2015 Views

wonderful courage to make the effort. Had his faithcontinued, doubtless he would have been sustained, butthe Lord's rule with His people seems to be, "Accordingto thy faith be it unto thee." We are not to encouragecredulity in ourselves or others, but we are to rememberthat faith which has a true foundation is very precious inthe Lord's sight.In St. Peter's case it was entirely proper that he shouldattempt to go to the Lord, because the effort had beensanctioned. It would have been credulity for him to havesupposed himself able to walk on the water, without theLord's sanction and invitation. But when he saw theboisterous waves his faith failed, he began to sink; andthen it was that he cried, "Save, or I perish!" How trueit is of all God's people that like St. Peter they wouldlike to do some wonderful thing to show their faith inthe Lord! And how like St. Peter's are their experiences,often! They would utterly fail did not the Lord interposefor their rescue. However, as the Lord found noR5096 : page 281fault with St. Peter for his effort, we are bound to admirethe degree of faith and courage which he manifested.ST. PETER THE TEACHABLEMuch has been said respecting St. Peter's rashnessand the difficulties he repeatedly got into. The criticismis surely to some extent justified, but we are to rememberthat the Master loved him greatly, partly on account ofhis zeal, partly on account of the energy which on severaloccasions got him into difficulty. One thing should alwaysbe remembered in his favor, that although he wasthe oldest of the Apostles he was evidently one of themost meek and most teachable of them all. Of his mistakeshe made a mirror, and thus, learning to know himselfmore particularly, he was safeguarded through themany dangers natural to his temperament; and he standsR5096 : page 282forth in the Scriptures as one of the very noblest of theApostles. The wisdom of St. Peter's course is illustratedin a little verse published in the New York Sun.THE THREE FAULT FINDERSThe poem tells that the three fault-finders were providedeach with a crystal, to do with as he pleased; andthis was the result:"The fool contrived of his a lens,Wherein, to gloating eyes,The smallest blot that could be foundWas magnified in size.

"The just man made of his a pane,All clear without a flaw;Nor summer sun nor winter rainAffected what he saw."The wise man pondered long and wellHow best to search, to aid,Then, taking up the crystal given,Of his a mirror made."There must have been a great strain continually uponthe Great Teacher and Healer, for He was continuallyexpending His vitality in both directions at once. Inhealing the sick, virtue, or vitality, went out from Himand He healed them all, we read. And all His publicteaching cost considerable vitality, especially when Headdressed large multitudes. Thus was fulfilled in part thesaying of the Prophet respecting Him, "Himself tookour sicknesses and bore our infirmities."Nevertheless, we find Him ever ready, ever alert aboutthe Father's business, and looking after the welfare of,and instructing all who gave evidence of being, or of everbecoming, children of God.When the ship reached shore in the morning, thepeople recognized Him and ran round-about that wholeregion, and began to carry about on beds those that weresick, to where they heard Jesus was. And wheresoeverhe entered, into villages, or into cities, or into the country,they laid the sick in the public places, and besoughtHim that these might touch if it were but the corner ofHis garment; "and as many as touched Him were madewhole."The healings which our Lord gave forth during Hisministry were physical. As we have already seen, nonebut Himself had yet received of the Holy Spirit in itsbegetting power. But did we not hear His word saying,"Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the Age"?And have not God's consecrated people throughout thepast eighteen centuries realized a blessing also--a spiritualblessing--as Jesus passed their way, as they came toa knowledge of Him, as by faith they reached out andtouched the hem of His garment, realizing Him to bethe Son of the Highest, the Redeemer of the world, theHead of the Church which is His Body, and shortly tobe the King of Glory, reigning for the blessing of all thefamilies of the earth?====================R5096 : page 282GOD'S WORD NOT MAN'S--OCTOBER 13.--MARK 7:1-13.--

wonderful courage to make the effort. Had his faithcontinued, doubtless he would have been sustained, butthe Lord's rule with His people seems to be, "Accordingto thy faith be it unto thee." We are not to encouragecredulity in ourselves or others, but we are to rememberthat faith which has a true foundation is very precious inthe Lord's sight.In St. Peter's case it was entirely proper that he shouldattempt to go to the Lord, because the effort had beensanctioned. It would have been credulity for him to havesupposed himself able to walk on the water, without theLord's sanction and invitation. But when he saw theboisterous waves his faith failed, he began to sink; andthen it was that he cried, "Save, or I perish!" How trueit is of all God's people that like St. Peter they wouldlike to do some wonderful thing to show their faith inthe Lord! And how like St. Peter's are their experiences,often! They would utterly fail did not the Lord interposefor their rescue. However, as the Lord found noR5096 : page 281fault with St. Peter for his effort, we are bound to admirethe degree of faith and courage which he manifested.ST. PETER THE TEACHABLEMuch has been said respecting St. Peter's rashnessand the difficulties he repeatedly got into. The criticismis surely to some extent justified, but we are to rememberthat the Master loved him greatly, partly on account ofhis zeal, partly on account of the energy which on severaloccasions got him into difficulty. One thing should alwaysbe remembered in his favor, that although he wasthe oldest of the Apostles he was evidently one of themost meek and most teachable of them all. Of his mistakeshe made a mirror, and thus, learning to know himselfmore particularly, he was safeguarded through themany dangers natural to his temperament; and he standsR5096 : page 282forth in the Scriptures as one of the very noblest of theApostles. The wisdom of St. Peter's course is illustratedin a little verse published in the New York Sun.THE THREE FAULT FINDERSThe poem tells that the three fault-finders were providedeach with a crystal, to do with as he pleased; andthis was the result:"The fool contrived of his a lens,Wherein, to gloating eyes,The smallest blot that could be foundWas magnified in size.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!