| The Glory of the Common Life |
Chapter 12 |
Page 5 |
Some people are weak in their character. The Master was infinitely patient with those who stumbled and fell. On his ears, as he stood in the place of trial, wearing the crown of thorns fell the words of bitter denial from the lips of his chief disciple, and they must have pierced his heart like thorns. But he spoke not one condemning word. He only looked toward Peter with grief, not with anger, winning him back to loyalty. Then when he returned from the grave, he sent his first message to Peter – “Tell the disciples and Peter that I am risen.” A little later he appeared to Peter first of the apostles. With wonderful love he surrounded this sinning, fallen disciple, that he might save him. Think what would have been the result if Jesus had not been thus loving and patient with Peter in those terrible hours. Peter never would have been restored. Think what a loss it would have been to the church in all ages if he had perished.
We think we are strong, that we cannot fall, and so we condemn those who stumble. But we do not know that we are really strong. We dare not say we could not fall. When another Christian falls, it becomes us to be most watchful over ourselves, lest we also be tempted. We do not know how a harsh or severe word may imperil the weak brother who has slipped or stumbled. If we treat him in a severe and condemning way, we may cause him to perish. We must be as Christ to him. Let the Master find genuine love in us. It is well to tell him of the love of Christ for him, of Christ’s patience, gentleness, and compassion, but if he does not find these qualities of love in our treatment of him, what we have told him about them will make small impression upon him.
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