The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-10
In the Religious World
What the Church Folks IRE Thinking
Abouf and Doing. Religious NegUS
From Everywhere.
SUNDAY SCHOOL IEssoN AND YOUNG PEOPLES ToT'Ic

of nature and life and the spiritual sig /
nificance Of it all.
The return to an out-of-doOrs relig- !
ion is wholesome tendency in mod /
ern life. The gospel of Christ comes
to us laden with sea breezes and with /
balmy air from forest and hillside; it /
is alive with the songs of birds and
redolent vita the fragrance of flowers. !
Surely. as he sat that day in Peters
boat, Jesus talked as was his fashion. /
about the homely life which surround
ed him, and which was to him always
parable of the greater life Of the
spirit His imagery was doubtless that
of the sea fishes and the nets and the
boats and the days catch
'sFisheTman's Luck
1t has been said that no truly bad
man loves fishing. This is the art that
promotes gentle homely philosophy
Deep sea fishermen are always rever-
emit They that go down to the sea in
ships, these see the works of Jeho-
yah" and their hearts bow down and
worship. Ii is not to be forgotten that
Jesus spent much of his life and min
istry by the sea. He could sleep in
stOrm-tOssed boat as serenely as child
in its mothers arms. The caves of the
sea and the life of the rough, gentle
hearted fsherfOlk were very familiar
and dear to him. 1t seems as if the
most sure of the sympathy of Christ
Despite the thrOng that surrounded
him. Jesus had time to think of Peters
Plight. All night the fisherman and
his partners had been out searching
the sea, but they had caught nothing,
nOW, with the cheerful fortitude of
their calling. they We're washing their
nets preparatory to starting again.
Jesus was touched by their poor for
tune. This great Rabbi was not an alb
sent-minded brOOder over celestial
things; he cared for people and for the
little concerns of their daily lives So
H. ha lot lot ont inf 77n
and let down your net for a draught.'
an appeal to larger enterprise, to dar-
ing, to bOldness, and to venture that
has been the text for countless moving
sermons. 1t is a good word for to-
day. when the temptation of many is
to stay by the shore. to paddle in the
swallows. to devote themselves to small
things and small returns. The large
ness of the worlds commercial enter
prises should be more than matched by
the magnitude of he churchs pro-
gramme- Indeed, the LARGEST enterprise
of civilization today is the church's
foreign mission work. Tt is more
than NapoleOnic venture: it is marked
by nothing less than divine audacity.
To Simon, of course, the Masters
words meant only definite direction
and seemingly a futile one. For though
the Sea of Galilee teemed with fishes,
they had been elusive that night. Pet
err with all his impulsiveness, was a
man of faith. He trusted his Lords
W0AQo BCt0I e Ills own M4SQOAAts anu So
he obeyed. When one can hear clear
direction from God then it is time to
do nothing but so ahead. We who call
Christ Master, "dOminus,' should be
willing to let him master, dominate,
our lives.
The miraculous draught of fishes re-
: suited Peter and his companion
Obeyed the Lords words. The result
I was that the two boats were filled to
the gunwales. from nets that had been
crowded to bursting. OF course they
got fish Whenever we work in Gods
way we win. obedience alone insures
success. t.They who trust him wholly,
find him wholly true"
What a IOng-shore event this must
have beenl The fishermen doubtless
/ talked of it for generations. It in
creased the fame and following of
Jesus, which jointly with his purpose
to serve his disciples. was the Masters
design. BY such SIGNS as these he at
/ tested himself the Son of God, the long
promised Messiah.
An Amazed Fisherman.
The establishment of Peter at what
he beheld developed into worship He
saw through the wonderful deed to the
more wonderful character of the DOer.
Like a flood there surged over him a
fresh conviction of the divinity of this
One whom he called Master. The pres
ence Of God in the flesh made him CON
scious of his sins. A man never feels
so unworthy as when he is closest to
Goa Ii IS bfe pest lover VINO most clear
/ ly realizes his unwOrthiness of his be
/ loved. Very natural and eommendable
/ was Peters prostration of himself
/ when he fell down and cried, Depart
from me; for L am a sinful man, O
1 Lord 1t is when we are in the dust
{ before Jehovah that he can lift US up
! to service
Upon the amazed consciousness of
/ Peter fell the assurance which so often
/ recurs ia Jesus word. Fear not" If
/ this was wonderful they We're vet to see
more wonderful. This final evidence
/ of Christs character prepared them
hath left houses. or brethren. or sis
! ters, or father, or mother, or children.
or lands. for my names. sake shall re-
1 ceive hundred fold and shall inherit
of al