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Chapter 21
203
This is the work before the every soul who has dishonored God,
and grieved the heart of Christ, by a denial of truth and righteousness.
If the tempted soul endures the trying process, and self does not
awake to life to feel hurt and abused under the test, that probing
knife reveals that the soul is indeed dead to self, but alive unto God.
Some assert that if a soul stumbles and falls, he can never regain
his position; but the case before us contradicts this. Before his
denial Christ said to Peter, “When thou art converted, strengthen thy
brethren.” In committing to his stewardship the souls for whom He
had given His life, Christ gave to Peter the strongest evidence of His
confidence in his restoration. And he was commissioned to feed not
only the sheep, but the lambs—a broader and more delicate work
than had hitherto been appointed him. Not only was he to hold forth
the word of life to others, but he was to be a shepherd of the flock
(
The Youth’s Instructor, December 22, 1898
).
18, 19 (
Matthew 19:28
;
25:31
;
Romans 8:17
;
1 Peter 4:13
).
A Transformed Peter
—[
John 21:18-22
quoted.] Peter was now
humble enough to understand the words of Christ, and without fur-
ther questioning, the once restless, boastful, self-confident disciple
became subdued and contrite. He followed his Lord indeed—the
Lord he had denied. The thought that Christ had not denied and
rejected him was to Peter a light and comfort and blessing. He felt
that he could be crucified from choice, but it must be with his head
downward. And he who was so close a partaker of Christ’s suffer-
ings will also be a partaker of His glory when He shall “sit upon the
throne of his glory” (
The Youth’s Instructor, December 22, 1898
).