Whosoever...

Saturday, January 19, 2019

...but I have prayed for thee...

Gems From My Reading - 7340 (Luke 22:31-32) Date: January 19, 2019 at 12:12:46 AM EST

           “Be of good cheer.” 

   “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he  may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not:  and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” (Luke 22:31-32)

    First observe that the Lord warns him.  Then note two other most touching things, the Lord’s prayer for  him before he fell, and the Lord’s look at him after. “Satan hath desired to have you,”  is divinely met, in grace, by ”but I have prayed for thee.”   
  The Lord made use of Satan to break the self-confidence which was the cause of Peter’s fall, but the Lord’s controlling hand was upon the enemy, even so, and he was allowed to go  so far and no farther; and I believe that when the day of Pentecost came,  and Peter, restored, and happy in His master’s love, was the means  of three thousand souls coming to Christ, and being saved,  the devil was heartily sorry that that he had not left  him alone in the high priest’s hall.
   But for that bitter experience he would never have been enough broken down, humbled, and self-emptied, for the Lord to use him  in that marvellous manner.
 (W. T. P. Wolston)
 N.J. Hiebert - 7340    

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