the acts of the apostles-第79部分
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grace。〃 John 1：14； 16。
The apostles exhorted the believers to study the Scriptures； through a
proper understanding of which they might make sure work for eternity。 Peter
realized that in the experience of every soul who is finally victorious
there would be scenes of perplexity and trial； but he knew also that an
understanding of the Scriptures would enable the tempted one to bring to
mind promises that would comfort the heart and strengthen faith in the
Mighty One。
〃All flesh is as grass；〃 he declared； 〃and all the glory of man as the
flower of grass。 The grass withereth； and the flower thereof falleth away：
but the word of the Lord endureth forever。 And this is the word which by the
gospel is preached unto you。 Wherefore laying aside all malice； and all
guile； and hypocrisies； and envies； and all evilspeakings； as newborn babes；
desire the sincere milk of the word； that ye may grow thereby： if so be ye
have tasted that the Lord is gracious。〃
Many of the believers to whom Peter addressed his letters； were living in
the midst of heathen； and much depended on their remaining true to the high
calling of their profession。 The apostle urged upon them their privileges as
followers of Christ Jesus。 〃Ye are a chosen generation；〃 he wrote； 〃a royal
priesthood； an holy nation； a peculiar people； that ye should show forth the
praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light：
which in time past were not a people； but are now the people of God： which
had not obtained mercy； but now have obtained mercy。
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〃Dearly beloved； I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims； abstain from
fleshly lusts； which war against the soul； having your conversation honest
among the Gentiles： that； whereas they speak against you as evildoers； they
may by your good works； which they shall behold； glorify God in the day of
visitation。〃
The apostle plainly outlined the attitude that believers should sustain
toward the civil authorities： 〃Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man
for the Lord's sake： whether it be to the king； as supreme； or unto
governors； as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of
evildoers； and for the praise of them that do well。 For so is the will of
God； that with well…doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish
men： as free； and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness； but
as the servants of God。 Honor all men。 Love the brotherhood。 Fear God。 Honor
the king。〃
Those who were servants were advised to remain subject to their masters
〃with all fear； not only to the good and gentle； but also to the froward。
For this is thankworthy；〃 the apostle explained； 〃if a man for conscience
toward God endure grief； suffering wrongfully。 For what glory is it； if；
when ye be buffeted for your faults； ye shall take it patiently？ but if；
when ye do well； and suffer for it； ye take it patiently； this is acceptable
with God。 For even hereunto were ye called： because Christ also suffered for
us； leaving us an example； that ye should follow His steps： who did no sin；
neither was guile found in His mouth： who； when He was
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reviled； reviled not again； when He suffered； He threatened not； but
committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously： who His own self bare our
sins in His own body on the tree； that we； being dead to sins； should live
unto righteousness： by whose stripes ye were healed。 For ye were as sheep
going astray； but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your
souls。〃
The apostle exhorted the women in the faith to be chaste in conversation and
modest in dress and deportment。 〃Whose adorning；〃 he counseled； 〃let it not
be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair； and of wearing of gold； or of
putting on of apparel； but let it be the hidden man of the heart； in that
which is not corruptible； even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit；
which is in the sight of God of great price。〃
The lesson applies to believers in every age。 〃By their fruits ye shall know
them。〃 Matthew 7：20。 The inward adorning of a meek and quiet spirit is
priceless。 In the life of the true Christian the outward adorning is always
in harmony with the inward peace and holiness。 〃If any man will come after
Me；〃 Christ said； 〃let him deny himself； and take up his cross； and follow
Me。〃 Matthew 16：24。 Self…denial and sacrifice will mark the Christian's
life。 Evidence that the taste is converted will be seen in the dress of all
who walk in the path cast up for the ransomed of the Lord。
It is right to love beauty and to desire it； but God desires us to love and
seek first the highest beauty； that which is imperishable。 No outward
adorning can compare in value or loveliness with that 〃meek and quiet
spirit；〃 the 〃fine
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linen； white and clean〃 （Revelation 19：14）； which all the holy ones of earth
will wear。 This apparel will make them beautiful and beloved here； and will
hereafter be their badge of admission to the palace of the King。 His promise
is； 〃They shall walk with Me in white： for they are worthy。〃 Revelation 3：4。
Looking forward with prophetic vision to the perilous times into which the
church of Christ was to enter； the apostle exhorted the believers to
steadfastness in the face of trial and suffering。 〃Beloved；〃 he wrote；
〃think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you。〃
Trial is part of the education given in the school of Christ； to purify
God's children from the dross of earthliness。 It is because God is leading
His children that trying experiences come to them。 Trials and obstacles are
His chosen methods of discipline； and His appointed conditions of success。
He who reads the hearts of men knows their weaknesses better than they
themselves can know them。 He sees that some have qualifications which； if
rightly directed； could be used in the advancement of His work。 In His
providence He brings these souls into different positions and varied
circumstances； that they may discover the defects that are concealed form
their own knowledge。 He gives them opportunity to overcome these defects and
to fit themselves for service。 Often He permits the fires of affliction to
burn； that they may be purified。
God's care for His heritage is unceasing。 He suffers no affliction to come
upon His children but such as is essential
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for their present and eternal good。 He will purify His church； even as
Christ purified the temple during His ministry on earth。 All that He brings
upon His people in test and trial comes that they may gain deeper piety and
greater strength to carry forward the triumphs of the cross。
There had been a time in Peter's experience when he was unwilling to see the
cross in the work of Christ。 When the Saviour made known to the disciples
His impending sufferings and death； Peter exclaimed； 〃Be it far from Thee；
Lord： this shall not be unto Thee。〃 Matthew 16：22。 Self…pity； which shrank
from fellowship with Christ in suffering； prompted Peter's remonstrance。 It
was to the disciple a bitter lesson； and one which he learned but slowly；
that the path of Christ on earth lay through agony and humiliation。 But in
the heat of the furnace fire he was to learn its lesson。 Now； when his once
active form was bowed with the burden of years and labors； he could write；
〃Beloved； think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try
you； as though some strange thing happened unto you： but rejoice； inasmuch
as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings； that； when His glory shall be
revealed； ye may be glad also with exceeding joy。〃
Addressing the church elders regarding their responsibilities as
undershepherds of Christ's flock； the apostle wrote： 〃Feed the flock of God
which is among you； taking the oversight thereof； not by constraint； but
willingly； not for filthy lucre； but of a ready mind； neither as being lords
over God's heritage； but being ensamples to the flock。 And
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when the Chief Shepherd shall appear； ye shall receive a crown of glory that
fadeth not away。〃
Those who occupy the position of undershepherds are to exercise a watchful
diligence over the Lord's flock。 This is not to be a dictatorial vigilance；
but one that tends to encourage and strengthen and uplift。 Ministry means
more than sermonizing； it means earnest； personal labor。 The church on earth
is composed of erring men and women； who need patient； painstaking effort
that they may be trained and disciplined to work with acceptance in this
life； and in the future life to be crowned with glory and immortality。
Pastors are neededfaithful shepherdswho will not flatter God's people；
nor treat them harshly； but who will feed them with the bread of lifemen
who in their lives feel daily the converting power of the Holy Spirit and
who cherish a strong； unselfish love toward those for whom they labor。
There is tactful work for the undershepherd to do as he is called to meet
alienation； bitterness； envy； and jealousy in the church； and he will need
to labor in the spirit of Christ to set things in order。 Faithful warnings
are to be given； sins rebuked； wrongs made right； not only by the minister's
work in the pulpit； but by personal labor。 The wayward heart may take
exception to the message； and the servant of God may be misjudged and
criticized。 Let him then remember that 〃the wisdom that is from above is
first pure； then peaceable； gentle； and easy to be entreated； full of mercy
and good fruits； without partiality； and without hypocrisy。
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And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace。〃
James 3：17； 18。
The work of the gospel minister is 〃to make all men see what is the
fellowship of the mystery； which from the beginning of the world hath been
hid in God。〃 Ephesians 3：9。 If one entering upon this work chooses the least
self…sacrificing part； contenting himself with preaching； and leaving the
work of personal ministry for someone else； his labors will not be
acceptable to God。 Souls for whom Christ died ar
