The Raymer enterprise., 1913-08-28

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lake. but the fishermen were gone out
of them, and were washing their nets
He entered into one, which was 81
mons, and asked him to thrust Out
little from the shore, and he sal
down and taught the people. 1t was
when he had left of speaking that he
said to Simon, Launch out into the
deep, and let down your nets" Simon
replied that he and his partners had
toiled all night, and had taken moth
Ing; but nevertheless" said he, al
thy. word / will let down the net.
And when they had done this, they
inclosed a great multitude of fishes
so that their nets brake. And then
they beckoned to those who were In
the other boat to come and help
them, and as a matter Of fact both
the boats were so filled with fish that
they began to sink.
The effect on Peter was an over
whelming conviction OF his sinful
ness. and he said, Depart from me;
for / am a sinful man, o Lord" Nor
was he less astonished or impressed
than the others who were with him
But Jesus comforted him by saying:
Fear not: from henceforth thou
shalt catch men," "And when they
had brought their boats to land, they
forsook all, and followed him"
~ We learn from this charming
incident that Jesus is good pay.
master. He borrowed an empty fish
ing smack. and repaid the owner of II
by filling 1t with fish! In one of his
discourses to his disciples on another
occasion he had said, There is nc
man that hath left house, or brethren
or sisters, or father, or mother, OF
wife. or children, or lands, for my
sake. and the gospels. but he shall
receive an hundredfold now in this
time; And in the world to come
eternal life" In the present instance
he seems to have been showing his
disciples, and showing us as we'll
Just what he meant by these words
and giving demonstration of their
truthfulness.
(2.) We learn in the second place
that Jesus Is wise counsellor He
told these fishermen just where the
fish were. and just where to let down
their nets with the most beneficial
results. We all need advice every
day In our business affairs, our do
nestle affairs. and the countless prob
lens that are coming up continually
In our existence. Some 60 to clair
voyants, some to palmists and spirit
ualists for such advice. but others
who know him go to the Lord their
God. He has said In the 37th Psalm
THE steps OF good man are ordered
by the Lord; though he fall
he shall not be utterly cast down.
(3) We learn also that Jesus is
great benefactor. They who were
simply fishers Of fish now became
fishers Of men. What would Peter
have amounted to had he remained In
Capernaum? But what did he now
become? Not only is his one Of the
three greatest names In the history
OF the Christian church. and not only
Is he now in felicity with his Lord
and Master, but that same Lord and
Master said to him and his fellow
apostles, "Ye which have followed
me. In the regeneration when the son
of man shall sit In the throne of his
glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve
thronesl Judging the twelve tribes OF
Israel" Is this promise likely to
come true? Yes. Just as certainly AZ
the Bible is the word OF God, and
Jesus Christ is the Son OF God. Blu,
there are corresponding promises 10,
all who know the true God and his
Son. Jesus Christ, and who serve and
trust him in the life OF faith. He
lifts the beggar from the dunghlll Ia
sit him among princes. an experience
that mas come to many q child OF
God In all the centuries long.
But what was the attitude of Pc
ter that brought all this to pass in
his case? The answer is simply
yieldedness Of will. Christ asked him
for his boat and he gave It to him; he
told him to launch out into the deer
for a draught and he launched ont
when he was satisfied with the ma.
terial result, he was asked to follow
Jesus. and he left all and followed
him.
To apply this to ourselves, we are
to remember that the first step in
the yielding Of our will Is the accep
tance Of Jesus Christ as our Saviour
and the public confession Of him a,
our Lord. This should be definite. in.
telligent and irreversible on our part
trusting God to fulfill his word az
written In the Gospel OF John. i.t2