The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-03-01

(This exposition Of the lesson Is
based on the narrative in Luke 5:1-l1.)
Already In our previous lessons we
have seen Christ as the founder Of
the Kingdom of Heaven upon the earth.
He was born a king; his baptism was
in 4 sense the Inauguration Of the
king; the temptation. the testing OF
the king. Being himself thus pre-
pared, We see him starting out to re-
cruit the first members Of his king
dom, who, in addition to being mem
beers of the kingdom themselves,
should also be instrumental in enlist
ing others under its banner.
In the call of these first disciples.
We recognize he essential conditions
which were to underlie all subsequent
calls of discipleship. To discover these
conditions should be the purpose OF
all who teach this lesson. The
fundamental condition, or condi-
tons underlying entrance into the
Kingdom Of God. are forever the same
with each succeeding generation. The
gifts and calling Of God are without
change"
We are told that the crowds press
ed upon Jesus to hear the Word OF
God" The preaching Of the Word of
God is always a drawing card. The
crowds have not wearied of the preach
ing Of the gospel, but only of the rel
age preacher who fails to preach the
gospel. Wherever O ind a man who,
like Moody. Torrey, Sturgeon. and
many others, breaches the Word Of
God. there you will And the streets full
OF men and women still pressing to
hear me message. Fire will always at
tract those who are Geld, and food
those who are hungry. SO will the
preaching OF the simp.e, gospel attract
tho hearts of men for whom it is pre-
pared. The world was tue
gospel, and the gospel for the world.
All great sermons in the Bible were
preached in the open air. II the peo-
pie will not come to church, then let
us take the church to them. II 1t was
not beneath the dignity of Jesus Christ
to hold open air meetings, it surely
cannot be beneath any pretended n
assumed dignity We may profess to pos
sess. Let some ministers who, dur
ing the hot months of the year. preach
to but a ~corporal's guard, go out into
the open air and preach to the crowds.
The best way to reach the masses Is to
go after them.
Jesus requested of these men the
loan of their boats, and they at once
complied with the Masters request. In
other words, he askeu these men TO
surrender their business for a little
while to him. And they did. How
magniicently he repaid them is seen
in the miraculous draught Of fishes.
No man can surrender his business to
.sus Christ without eventually be-
ing a gamer by it. He shall receive
a h~undredfold more in this life, and
In the world to come life everlasting"
Next, Jesus requires that these men
recognize him as knowing more about
their business than they do them
selves. He requires them to do what
their own common sense tells them
there is no use in doing. This is evil
dent by the answer of Peter: Lord
We have toiled all night and caught
nothing, nevertheless" etc. The word
Lord here probably means ship
MASTER" n set over a boat. and is re-
markable as used in this connection.
The word nevertheless" indicates sur
render Of their thoughts and plans to
Christ.
Christ required from these men the
surrender of their whole lives. They
forsook their nets, and their business,
and followed him. This was final and
complete obedience. Ever after they
were to devote their lives to catching
men, not fish.
No man can enlist under the ban
ner Of Christ, nor become a member
OF the Kingdom Of God, who is not
willing to make an absolute surrender
of himself and all that he has and
expects to be to the Christ and his
service. $50 likewise, whatsoever he
be Of o that forsaketh not all that he
hath, he cannot be my disciple OF
course, Christ may not, in fast does
not call upon us all to leave our daily
vocation and become preachers or mis-
sionaries. No; ofttimes he calls upon
us to do what is very much harder
to stay in business and use it for him
and his kingdom. There can be no
question. however. but that ere We can
become CErist's disciples there must
be the complete surrender of ourselves
to his absolute and authoritative con
troll. This is the crucial test of Chris
tianity, And it is just at this point of
unconditional surrender that many peo-
pie hesitate and Outlines refuse to
comply with the terms of disciple
ship.
Implied, yea, clearly stated. in this
call to membership in the kingdom,
wac was the conservation Of these
fishermen to the task of catching men.
In some Sunday schools, there is kept
what Is called a "Fishermen.s Roll, on
which there is recorded each Sunday
the names of those who have brought
in new members. 1t Is a great work
to bring others to Sunday school and
to church.; it Is greater still to bring
them to Jesus Christ In the frat
chapter Of John we have q detailed ac-
count OF how these disciples caught
their first fish" for their ''shipmas-
ter" Let us first Of all be "still-ash-
ers;" seeing to it that those In u
homes and Sunday schools are caught
for Christ. But let US not rest con-
tAnf Nth that Let ma try IN uin <ha