Who of us has not gone through situations similar to that of Peter, the outspoken disciple? His humanity is surely one to which we can all relate, at least in some way. His enthusiastic zeal and ready willingness to do his Master’s bidding is inspiring. We can surely empathize with his occasional, embarrassing mistakes and be encouraged by the way he rose again after a fall. The maturing process Peter underwent through God’s leading brought him into a noble apostleship, with two epistles worthy of being placed in the sacred canon of holy Writ.
For these reasons, over the next three months, Sabbath school students around the world will be focusing on the Lessons From the Epistles of Peter (I). Rich gems of truth from this inspired man of God are designed to fortify our walk with the Lord in trying times.
One of the key points of Peter’s epistle is that the people of God are to be living lives that build up the body of Christ to be a shining witness to a sin-darkened world.
“A revival and a reformation must take place, under the ministration of the Holy Spirit. Revival and reformation are two different things. Revival signifies a renewal of spiritual life, a quickening of the powers of mind and heart, a resurrection from spiritual death. Reformation signifies a reorganization, a change in ideas and theories, habits and practices. Reformation will not bring forth the good fruit of righteousness unless it is connected with the revival of the Spirit. Revival and reformation are to do their appointed work, and in doing this work they must blend.”—Selected Messages, bk. 1, p. 128.
An interesting testimony brings a strong appeal to each one of us that we can all glean for our spiritual growth as we study the first epistle of Peter: “My brother, if you will, you can be a strong man in God. You have talents of ability that God has entrusted to your keeping to be sanctified to His service. But if you do not yield up all to Christ, your ability will prove dangerous both to yourself and to others, leading them to walk apart from the truth and away from Christ.
“The members of the church in—need very much done for them. They must have fervent zeal for Christ, must be more humble, more patient, more kind, more teachable, more Christlike in every respect. In their character they should manifest to the world the sanctifying power of grace. God forbid that you should, by precept or example, bar the way to this essential work. Will you work with Jesus? Will you be true to the Lord who has bought you? Will you put into the background all matters of minor importance? You must be baptized into a larger faith, a larger charity. You need greater reverence for things of eternal importance.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, pp. 570, 571.
May the Lord help us all to take this to heart as we study!
The General Conference Sabbath School Department
