resulted in a tremendous catch (6-7). They doubtless had never made such a catch before in all their experience as fishermen. It was amazing. Essential Vision In the Call vv. 8, 9 Before a person gets a real call to service he must have a twofold vision, namely, a vision of the Lord which re sults in a vision of self. Peter saw Christ that day in a new way. He realized His power and holiness. It was then that he said, “ Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, 0 Lord” (8). He felt his utter unworthiness to remain in the presence of such blazing glory. His feelings were much like those of the prophet Isaiah who in face of the vision of the Lord he received in the temple, cried out, “Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips” (Isa. 6:5). No one will amount to much as a servant of God until he has a proper conception of the Lord in His infinite holiness, glory and grace. This is what creates in man a proper conception of himself in all his need and helplessness. The Call To Service vv. 10, 11 Speaking to Peter, the leader of the group, Jesus now said, “ Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men” . He would continue to be a fisherman but in a different realm. Doubtless there were many things he had learned as a fisherman at Galilee which he could use to good advantage as a fisher of men. For instance, a good fisherman keeps out of sight, he has patience, he knows the best time, he knows where the fish are, and chooses the best bait. Peter and his companions doubtless had been impressed with the importance of these things and would use them in a spiritual sense when fishing for men. You, too, are called to be a fisher of men. You ought to learn the characteristics of a good fisherman. Helps For the Children Fishermen Who Followed Jesus Mark 1:16-20 Memory Verse: “Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men” (Mark 1:17). The Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son, was constantly seeking followers who would receive Him as their Saviour and then go forth to tell others about Him. One day as the Saviour was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. The Lord Jesus said to them: “ Come ye after me, and I will make you to be come fishers of men,” They might easily have argued with Him that they could not leave their fishing, for that was their way of earning their living. They might have told Him that their families would not like for them to give up their jobs and become His followers. God’s Word tells us that “ straightway [at once, or right away] they forsook [left]
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their nets, and followed him.” When the Lord Jesus had gone a little farther He saw two more fishermen, James and John, sitting in their ship mending their nets. Immediately He called them, and they left their father in the ship with their servants and went after Him! They too might have given the excuse that they could not leave their father to do all of the work alone, or that they were badly in need of the money which they received from their fishing. Sometimes we wonder why the Lord Jesus chose humble fishermen and hated tax collectors to be His disciples rather than the great, educated religious lead ers of that day. The Saviour found in the humble folk eager followers and ready listeners to His words of life. These fishermen had already, met the Lord Jesus in the Scripture which we studied last Sunday. Now He was call ing them to be His constant helpers. Immediately they left all to follow their Lord. Sometimes God’s children today are giving excuses for not giving their all to Him. Sometimes it is the excuse of duties at home or a job or the lack of talents. Whatever the excuse, it is not acceptable to God when He has asked that His children give their very best, their ALL to Him for His service. Prayerfully ask Him to make your main desire in life to follow Him that you may be a fisher of men. January 20, 1952 D ISC IP LE S fflP A N D BU S IN ESS Matt. 9:9; Luke 5:27-39 Pointers On the Lesson In the man Matthew we have a busi ness man who came to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and manifested a willingness to follow Him completely even though it meant the giving up a lucrative income. The response of Mat thew to the call of Christ reveals the ideal attitude of all those who profess to be followers of the Lord. T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
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