the acts of the apostles-第88节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


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

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　523

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

524

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

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　525

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

526

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。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　527

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　are　perishing　for　want　of
well…directed；　personal　labor；　and　he　has　mistaken　his　calling　who；　entering
upon　the　ministry；　is　unwilling　to　do　the　personal　work　that　the　care　of　the
flock　demands。

The　spirit　of　the　true　shepherd　is　one　of　self…forgetfulness。　He　loses　sight
of　self　in　order　that　he　may　work　the　works　of　God。　By　the　preaching　of　the
word　and　by　personal　ministry　in　the　homes　of　the　people；　he　learns　their
needs；　their　sorrows；　their　trials；　and；　co…operating　with　the　great　Burden
Bearer；　he　shares　their　afflictions；　comforts　their　distresses；　relieves
their　soul　hunger；　and　wins　their　hearts　to　God。　In　this　work　the　minister
is　attended　by　the　angels　of　heaven；　and　he　himself　is　instructed　and
enlightened　in　the　truth　that　maketh　wise　unto　salvation。

In　connection　with　his　instruction　to　those　in　positions　of　trust　in　the
church；　the　apostle　outlined　some　general　principles　that　were　to　be
followed　by　all　who　were　associated　in　church　fellowship。　The　younger
members　of　the　flock　were　urged　to　follow　the　example　of　their　elders　in　the

528

practice　of　Christlike　humility：　〃Likewise；　ye　younger；　submit　yourselves
unto　the　elder。　Yea；　all　of　you　be　subject　one　to　another；　and　be　clothed
with　humility：　for　God　resisteth　the　proud；　and　giveth　grace　to　the　humble。
Humble　yourselves　therefore　under　the　mighty　hand　of　God；　that　He　may　exalt
you　in　due　time：　casting　all　your　care　upon　Him；　for　He　careth　for　you。　Be
sober；　be　vigilant；　because　your　adversary　the　devil；　as　a　roaring　lion；
walketh　about；　seeking　whom　he　may　devour：　whom　resist　steadfast　in　the
faith。〃

Thus　Peter　wrote　to　the　believers　at　a　time　of　peculiar　trial　to　the　church。
Many　had　already　become　partakers　of　Christ's　sufferings；　and　soon　the
church　was　to　undergo　a　period　of　terrible　persecution。　Within　a　few　brief
years　many　those　who　had　stood　as　teachers　and　leaders　in　the　church　were　to
lay　down　their　lives　for　the　gospel。　Soon　grievous　wolves　were　to　enter　i