Peter's conduct and actions should warn us of the danger of spiritual pride. We need to know that we should take heed in our lives lest we too fall. The Bible tells us that after the apprehension of our Lord, Peter followed afar off. He even blasphemed the name of the Saviour. But Christ has a way of bringing back the backslider, too. He looked at Peter (Luke 22:61) and then it was that the disciple remembered the prophecy which our Lord had given concerning his denial. We are told that as a result, he repented and went out to weep bitterly because of what had taken place (vs. 75). The reason for this was that while he had known bet ter, and although Satan had found his weak link, he was still not too proud to come back to the Lord. The reality of his Christian experi ence was evidence of this fact. In I Corinthians 15:5, Paul writes of the resurrection of the Saviour. Here it is testified that He was seen of Peter, and then that the 12 were eye-witnesses of Him. The Lord is dealing here in mercy and grace with His fallen follower. The pub lic restoration was with the fire of coals at the Sea of Callilee. The risen Christ appeared. After a fruit less night of toiling, the Saviour provided them with all of the ne cessities for spiritual, as well as physical, refreshment and fellow ship. Here the Lord recommis sioned the reclaimed disciple. Pet er had denied the Lord three times before another fire of coals. At this point in his experience there were three questions about Peter's love for Christ (John 21:15- 19). The disciple was grieved be cause he knew the meaning of the questioning. As is true with us to day, however, grace and love re- Page 55
them the truth of the message of sin and salvation, are strategic as pects of winning others to Christ. We must be direct in our efforts to "bring them to Jesus." Do you know how to do personal evangel ism? Are you willing to become "fishers of men" for the Lord? Keep yourself out of sight and lift up the Saviour as you share with others what He has done in and through your life.
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