Lesson 452 - Junior

Memory Verse

"Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king." (I Peter 2:17).

Notes

A Message for Us

Peter, the Apostle, was a mighty preacher and preached some great sermons recorded in the Holy Bible. In these chapters he describes, among other things, the holy life of a Christian. Peter was once a fisherman and some of his "object lessons" he may have taken from his past experiences.

We learn from our text about the sufferings of Christ while here upon earth, followed by the glory that awaited Him afterward. The Christians today have some sufferings to go through, but there awaits a glorious reward for them if they endure to the end. But there are certain things that they must do in order to be full overcomers.

A Sanctified Life

When we are saved and sanctified we "love one another with a pure heart fervently," or warmly and deeply. If we love others we will do nothing to injure them; we will not speak evil of or to them; we will not prefer ourselves above others and we will try to help people to be saved. "Be ye holy in all manner of conversation" no doubt means to be clean, pure and holy in our daily life, both in word and in deed. We must watch our conversation and not talk harshly or hurtfully to others.

When the Lord saves one from sin it becomes the normal thing to lay aside all malice, guile, hypocrisy, envy, and evil speaking. Malice means "ill will" or evil intentions; guile means almost the same as deceit; hypocrisy means pretending to be what one is not; to envy another is to begrudge the good fortune of another. Evil speaking includes talking against another, saying unkind things about him, and trying to influence one against another. Telling lies and using bad language is also evil speaking.

Trials and Temptations

Christians are often considered peculiar by people of the world because they do not act or talk as others, or wear the extreme fashions that sinners wear. Young people can be very cruel in their talk, and hurt those who are doing right. Peter says to rejoice, although "for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations." He says that trials and temptations are worth even more than gold to us, and we should "rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." That is not easy to do when others are making fun of us, or when we are all alone in withdrawing from certain activities in school in which we feel we should not take part. But if we take our stand, it builds our character; it makes us stronger in the Lord, and will enable us to go through harder trials for Jesus when necessary.

Some people never do "grow up" spiritually and are always letting their trials "get them down"; they think their troubles are greater than anyone's.

Controlling Our Thoughts

Peter says to "gird up the loins of your mind." In olden times the people wore the loose, flowing garments, with a girdle around the waist. Often they would gather the skirt of their garment about them, to shorten it, so as not to hinder their walking or running, but to be ready for action. We are told to "gird up" our mind -- control our thoughts, keep our mind on Jesus. Do not let our mind dwell on worldly things, but meditate upon Jesus and His soon coming. Paul instructs us to think upon things that are honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report.

Life's Short Day

A picture is given to show how enduring the Word of God is and how - short one's life is. "All flesh is as grass, 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 for ever." To rosy-checked boys and girls of junior age with strong, healthy bodies, life will surely continue for a long time, so they think. There are so many things to do; so many places to go; so much pleasure to be had in living! That is true, especially for those who are saved. Life holds a great many pleasant surprises, especially for the young. Even very old folk who sit in rocking chairs, and have difficulty getting around, still have fond memories of childhood, and dream of the past and the future. Yet life is very brief! Moses wrote in [PS:90:10]: "The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away." Many people do live to be older than 70, but as they grow older some become weaker and often must be cared for by others.

A few years ago the hospital workers visited an elderly gentleman in a sickbed. He told them that just before he became ill, one morning while he was working in the barn his granddaughter came running to him and said, "Grandpa, we are celebrating your 80th birthday today. He suddenly realised that he had lived his fourscore years. "Where had the 80 years gone?" he thought. A few days later he became sick and was taken to the hospital. It was then that he took time to seek the Lord, and was saved. Shortly thereafter he was called to his heavenly home. Jesus Christ "according to his abundant mercy" saved him before it was too late. Time does seem to fly! Elderly people are often heard to say, "It seems but yesterday that I was a child."

Even children and young people are sometimes taken by death, and none of us know what tomorrow may bring. Now is the time to seek the Lord and be prepared to meet Him in peace.

Suffering Wrongfully

Peter says that "for conscience toward God" we should be willing to suffer wrongfully. It is no credit to us if we are corrected for our faults and do not "talk back." But if we do well, and are reproved for that, and take it patiently, then God is pleased with us.

For example, perhaps you were asked to do something and you did what you thought was right and helpful. Then perhaps someone did not approve and spoke harshly to you. If you have the grace of God in your heart and take it patiently, and do not talk back, then God is pleased and He will bless you for it. It might hurt at the moment, but you do not have any hard feelings and do not think within yourself; "I'll get even with you." Then your conscience is clear before God and man. You can pray for the other person.

Christ Our Example

"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 reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not." None of us have ever suffered as He suffered; we will never know how heavy the cross that He bore for us; we will never be able to repay Him, even in a small way. But the least we can do is to take up our cross, follow closely and be willing to suffer wrongfully for His sake.

Many false witnesses spoke against Jesus but He held His peace. They spit in His face and struck Him with their hands. He was stripped of His - clothes and a scarlet robe put on Him. A crown of thorns, made from a shrub with large, sharp thorns, was placed upon His head. They put a reed in His hand and bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him. He was made to bear His own cross; He was nailed to the cross and given vinegar to drink mingled with gall.

"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." It was for us: to take away our sins, to sanctify and to heal us.

The Shepherd and the Sheep

No doubt you have all seen the picture of the little lost sheep that fell down the mountainside. The kind Shepherd, represented as Jesus wearing the crown of thorns, reached down and rescued the little lamb. Jesus said, "How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?" [MAT:18:12]). What would be your answer to that question?

Before we were saved, we were "as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop" of our souls. Let us never stray away from Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

Questions

1. What value is placed upon "the trial of your faith"?

2. What is meant by "gird up the loins of your mind"?

3. Why is it necessary for us to be holy?

4. What is meant by "all flesh is as grass"?

5. How enduring is the Word of the Lord?

6. What are we told to lay aside?

7. Why are Christians sometimes considered peculiar?

8. How should servants treat their masters?

9. Tell how Christ became a perfect example for us.

10. What comparison is made between people and sheep?