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That Thy Faith Fail Not, September 8
My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear
thereof, and be glad.
Psalm 34:2
.
When, as you labor for the salvation of souls, sinners are convicted of
their sins and you have evidence that Christ has had compassion on them, that
new hope is springing up in their hearts, it is not correct to say, “We prayed
for him, and he gave his heart to God and was saved.” This is misleading. It is
their privilege to say, solemnly, seriously, gladly, “I believe that Jesus Christ
has forgiven my sins.” Encourage every soul to have hope and faith, but never
...say of any man, “He is saved.” ...
Patient, pitying tenderness is to be exercised toward the erring, to bring
back the wandering sheep. We have an example of this in Christ’s treatment of
Peter who denied his Lord with cursing and swearing. Peter thought himself
strong. He said, “Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my
life for thy sake” (
John 13:37
). But Jesus answered him, “Verily I say unto
thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt
deny me thrice” (
Mark 14:30
). But Peter “spake the more vehemently, If I
should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise” (
Verse 31
).
It is not wise to boast. Peter fell because he did not know his own frailty....
The Lord had said to Peter, “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
).
If Satan had been suffered to have his way, there would have been no
hope for Peter. He would have made complete shipwreck of faith. Had Peter
earnestly and in humility looked for divine help, had he been searching his
own heart in secret, he would not have been sifted when tried. Satan cannot
overcome the humble learner of Christ, he who walks prayerfully before the
Lord. “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord
shall lift up a standard” for him against the enemy (
Isaiah 59:19
). Christ
interposes Himself as a shelter, a retreat, and the wicked one cannot overcome
Him.—
Manuscript 109, September 8, 1898
, “Peter’s Fall and Restoration.”
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