163
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
March 1927
on the temporal side of things! “Great peace have they whose mind is stayed on Him,” but when we get to thinking of our own feet and of-the tossing waves of cir cumstances about us, we are full of fear. Dr. McNeill once pictured Peter thus, as he started toward Christ: P—stands for PO.WER E—stands for EAGER T—stands for TRUSTFUL K—stands for EFFECTUAL I R—stands for REJOICING. But here is Peter, looking at the waves instead of Christ: P—stands for POWERLESS E—stands for EXHAUSTED T—stands for TREMBLING If you are slipping and floundering, lift your eyes to Jesus, “the author and'fin isher of faith” (Heb. 12:2). Down Peter went, lustily calling out: “Lord, save me” (v. 30). It was not like some of the prayers we hear in .prayer meeting, but it went straight to Jesus and brought His helping hand. When you’re in trouble, shoot a prayer to Him. Three words—-or one word—He hears and un derstands ! What did Jesus reply? “Foolish man,; why did you start?” NO. “Why didn’t you keep your eyes on ME and keep com ing?” He caught Peter “immediately" (v. 31), then asked: “Wherefore didst thou doubt?” See if you can find Peter’s answer to the question. Peter couldn’t say a word for himself. Looking at circumstances, we may find a reason for our fears, but looking at Jesus, we will be speechless. “The wind ceased" (v. 32). Literally— “grew tired.” It always takes the wind out of the devil’s sails when a child of God looks at Jesus and takes His hand. Nothing can touch us if we are in His hands (Jn. 10:27-29; Psa. 37:23, 24). Some people talk about “the final per severance of the saints” and of “holding on to the end.” That doctrine went to the bottom of the sea that day. It de pends upon His grasp,, not ours. Christ does the persevering, and is able to save unto the uttermost all that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them (Heb. 7:25). They worshipped Jesus, saying “O f a truth thou art the Son of God” (v. 33). All who have found themselves utterly at sea and beyond all human help—and who then have turned to Jesus—have been left in no doubt as to His deity. Jn. 6:21 adds that “immediately the ship was at the land whither they went." How much better progress we make when we have Jesus aboard 1 P it h a n d P o in t “I am doing the best I can under the circumstances;” Why not be above them? There are no disappointments to those who are surrendered to the will of Christ. To find misery, let the mind be occu pied with the dangers about you rather than with Christ. Don’t wait until sinking time to have your praying time. If you’re all at sea, take Jesus on board. Take His hand and you’ll get safely to land. The greatness of our fear shows the littleness of our faith. The intuitions of faith are more cer tain than the conclusions of logic. E—stands for EMPTY R—stands for RUINED.
it must have been to Andrew and his brother Simon, and John and his brother James1to be with Jesus as his helpers! Our story tells us they went to the home of .-Simon and Andrew, and the mother of Simon’s wife was very sick. Jesus walked over to the bed, took her by the hand and lifted her up; and imme diately the fever left her, and she was perfectly well. Let us learn our memory verse. Have we left all, that we might follow Jesus? Are we willing to leave our games and play, to come to God’s house? Are we willing to give up any thing that harms us, or keeps us from pleasing Jesus'? (Prayer.).
on, where a father and his two sons were mending their nets. While they were busy with this good work, the best thing in all their lives came to James and John, for these were the names, of the two young men who were with their father in the boat, mending their nets. Jesus called them to follow Him, and at once they left their father in the boat, and followed Jesus. There were hired servants in the boat with the father to help him, but when Jesus wanted James and John to come after Him,, and learn to do the work of helpers, no one could take their places. When Jesus calls us He. wants us, and He wants us right away. O how wonderful
w? ate is i A p r il 10, 1927 Peter’s Lesson in Trust L e s s o n - T e x t —Matt. 14:22-33
as we think not,” He will literally appear (Acts 1:11). Some, because they are not prepared to meet Him, will cry for the rocks and mountains to -fall upon them, and hide them from His face (Rev. 6:15). “Jesus spake unto them —Be of good cheer—It is I—Be not afraid” (v. 27). His sheep know His voice (John 10:27). Have you discerned Hisjjvoice in. your testings?;;'. Have you heard it in your sor rows, as Mary heard it? (John 11:32). Have you heard it in your distraction as Martha heard it? (Luke 10:41). “When waves: of trouble round me swell, My soul is not dismayed: I hear a voice I know full well— ’Tis I—be not afraid. “When black the threatening clouds ap pear, And storms my path invade, Those accents tranquilize each fear, ’Tis I—be not afraid.” And now we come to the “impetuous Peter” (as some of the commentators say). But give him credit for wanting to get. near to Jesus (Cf. Jn. 21:7). “I f it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water” (v. 28). Who else could it be but Jesus? Was it a rash idea? Some say Peter should not have ventured in this way. Is not faith always a venture? “The Steps of faith fall on a seeming void, and always find the rock.” Belief does not become faith until we venture out alone with our eyes on Christ. Jesus said “Come” (v. 29). That set tles the issue. It was right for Peter to start when Jesus said “Come.” If we have seen Jesus and He has bidden us step out, we may safely go, regardless of what men may say—even though they are our closest friends. “Peter walked on the water” (v. 29). The wise men refer us to the “unalter able laws of nature,” and tell us that un doubtedly they were near shore and Peter stepped out upon a mass of sedgy grass which gave way under him. Alas! the Bible throws great light upon the com mentaries. The whole point of the story is that Peter was able to do what his Lord did so long as he kept the eye of faith on Him. But— “when he saw the wind” (v. 30). One must have a good eye to see wind. Alas! how sharp sighted some of us are
'TIHERE is a very, practical application of this story of the near Christ and far-off Christians. As the Saviour withdrew from His dis
ciples to the mount of intercession, sending them out into a storm which He foresaw, so He has gone into heaven to pray for us, leaving us to labor at the oars of life amid all kinds of weather.
“He knoweth the way that we take, and when He has tried us, we shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). It is not an evidence that we -are in a wrong path because it is a rough path. God often roughens our path so that we will not- trust in our own sure-footed ness but take His hand. A party was climbing the Alps. Be fore reaching one of the summits, a storm came on. Many wanted to turn back. The guide urged on. In a few minutes-: they found themselves above the clouds look ing down into the valley where the storm raged. When all seems dark, God is bidding us to higher ground where we can get a bet ter view of Jesus. . “The ship was in the midst of the sea, tossed with the waves', for the wind was contrary" (v. 24). Are you ’ straining every muscle to the breaking point? Are you distracted, fearful and inclined to think that Christ has left you to perish? When things look darkest, Jesus ap pears. “In the fourth watch of the night (the darkest hour), Jesus went unto them walking on the sea" (v. 25). The strange thing is—Jesus caught His disciples in an unexpectant attitude. When they saw Him, “they were troubled, say ing, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear" (v. 26). He caught them out when they were not wearing their Sunday clothes and carrying their Bibles under their arms. It is all well to have visions of Jesus in church on Sunday. We sing: “We would see Jesus.” If He should suddenly ap pear, would we cry put for fear? Are we prepared to meet Him in the every day experiences, and when we are in the midst of storm and stress? Would His presence upset us? Jesus often comes in the unexpected way. One of these days, “in such an hour
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