You and I also have a hard time in this area. The truth was that Peter, in himself, was totally inadequate and insufficient to live the kind of life the Saviour had in mind for him. When the Lord announced that He was going to Jerusalem, Peter was gravely concerned. He decided to do something about it. The other disci ples could stand around but not Pet er. He was a man of action. He jumped in front of the Lord to pre vent Him. No doubt Peter spoke out of the affection of his own heart, but he was wrong. Without question, he wanted the best for the Lord. Christ answered, “Get thee behind me, Satan; thou a rt an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of man.” One of the most tremen dous lessons any Christian can learn is this. A man who tries to live for Christ is living in a power that is diametrically opposed to all that Christ is. We in ourselves are sin ful. Sinful men can never live for Christ. When we do, we are living in the energy of the Satanic princi ples within us. This is the old na ture or carnal man. Such is of Sa tanic origin. Peter was trying to live for Christ in the energy of himself. The important lesson Peter had to learn was this: self can never live for Christ. The only way the Chris tian life can be lived is when Christ lives it in and through you by the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit. * The Christian should not follow the crowd, but rather show them the way. * * * Where God's finger points, there God's hand will make the way. * * * If you keep your mouth closed, it is not as likely that people will jump down your throat. * * * It's more important to know where you are going than to get nowhere in a hurry. * * * * *
HEAVEN'S MEANING An outstanding Christian leader of bygone years once declared, “When I was a boy, I thought of heaven as a great shining city with vast walls, domes and spires. Nobody occupied it except white ghostly angels. They were strangers to me. A short time later my little brother died. I then thought of a great city with walls, domes, and spires, and a flock of unknown angels, and now one little fellow whom I had known. As I grew older, more of my acquaintances passed away and the flock on the other side continually grew. It was not until God called one of my own children Home, however, that I began to think I had a special THE CRITIC A little seed lay. In the ground, And soon began to sprout: “ Now which, of all the flowers around," It mused, "shall I come out? "T h e lily's face is fair and proud, But just a trifle cold; The rose, I think, is rather loud; And, then, its fashion's old. investment over there myself. Gradu ally those walls, domes and spires fad ed away and my mind was occupied, with the residents of the celestial city and of the Person of my wonderful Lord. Now there are so many who await me there, it sometimes seems l know more 'over there than I do here on earth.’’ Those thoughts express what is true with most of us. There is a great multitude which no man can number who will stand before the Throne. Heaven is called “My Father’s house.” Certainly we shall know each other over there even as also we are known. Our Saviour assuredly prom ised, “If I go away, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am there ye may be also.” 20 "The violet— it dies so well, But not a flower I'd choose. Nor yet the Canterbury bell— I never cared for blues." And so it criticized each flower— > This supercilious seed— Until it woke one summer hour. And found itself a weed!
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