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The Desire of Ages
His. Peter had accepted the call. Upon reaching the shore, Jesus bade
the three other disciples, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of
men.” Immediately they left all, and followed Him.
Before asking them to leave their nets and fishing boats, Jesus had
given them the assurance that God would supply their needs. The use
of Peter’s boat for the work of the gospel had been richly repaid. He
who is “rich unto all that call upon Him,” has said, “Give, and it shall
be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together,
and running over.”
Romans 10:12
;
Luke 6:38
. In this measure He had
rewarded the disciple’s service. And every sacrifice that is made in
His ministry will be recompensed according to “the exceeding riches
of His grace.”
Ephesians 3:20
;
2:7
.
During that sad night on the lake, when they were separated from
Christ, the disciples were pressed hard by unbelief, and weary with
fruitless toil. But His presence kindled their faith, and brought them joy
and success. So it is with us; apart from Christ, our work is fruitless,
and it is easy to distrust and murmur. But when He is near, and we
labor under His direction, we rejoice in the evidence of His power. It
is Satan’s work to discourage the soul; it is Christ’s work to inspire
with faith and hope.
The deeper lesson which the miracle conveyed for the disciples is
a lesson for us also,—that He whose word could gather the fishes from
the sea could also impress human hearts, and draw them by the cords
of His love, so that His servants might become “fishers of men.”
They were humble and unlearned men, those fishers of Galilee;
but Christ, the light of the world, was abundantly able to qualify them
for the position for which He had chosen them. The Saviour did not
despise education; for when controlled by the love of God, and devoted
to His service, intellectual culture is a blessing. But He passed by the
wise men of His time, because they were so self-confident that they
could not sympathize with suffering humanity, and become colaborers
with the Man of Nazareth. In their bigotry they scorned to be taught
by Christ. The Lord Jesus seeks the co-operation of those who will
become unobstructed channels for the communication of His grace.
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The first thing to be learned by all who would become workers together
with God is the lesson of self-distrust; then they are prepared to have
imparted to them the character of Christ. This is not to be gained