Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon, published in “Mornings & Evenings,” entry for October 8th, AM.
Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2008.
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Please open your Bible and read Luke 5:1-11.
We learn about the necessity of human action from the story of the fish and nets. The catch of fish was miraculous, yet the fisherman wasn’t ignored, and neither was his boat or his fishing tackle. All were used to catch the fishes as part of God’s miracle.
When people come to know the saving grace of God, He works through our ordinary methods. While people are not saved by our own efforts and are saved by God alone, God will be pleased by the “foolishness” of preaching to save anyone who might believe. God has selected a plan by which He is magnified all over the Earth through His work in us.
Human effort by itself is utterly futile: “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything,” said Peter (Luke 5:5) Why was their labor unproductive? These were fishermen plying their trade. They were not rookies, they understood the work. Did they labor unskillfully? No. Were they slacking off? No, they “worked hard”. Did they lack perseverance? No, they worked through the night. Were there no fish in the sea? There certainly were, for as soon as the Master came, they swam in great numbers to the nets.
Then what is the reason? It’s because there is no power in their actions apart from the presence of Jesus. “Apart from me,” Jesus says, “you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) But with Christ we can do all things.
Christ’s presence confers success. Jesus sat in Peter’s boat, and His will mysteriously drew the fish to the net. When Jesus is lifted up in His Church, His presence is the Church’s power. It’s the shout of the king. “I, when I am lifted up from the earth,” Jesus explains, “will draw all men to myself.” (John 12:32) Let’s go out today on our work of soul fishing, both looking up in faith and around us in solemn reverence. Let’s toil until night comes, and we know we won’t labor in vain, for He who admonishes us to let down the net will fill it with fishes.
Questions: Have you been struggling for success lately? Have your nets been found empty?
About this Author: http://thelife.com/experience/devotionalformen/authors/charles-spurgeon/
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October 9th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Thank you, Darren, for sharing some of Charles Spurgeon with us! His teaching is a treasure-chest of spiritual illumination and wisdom! Would love to have heard him preach in person! :) As for spiritual success, God’s progressive revelation of Himself is directly related to our hunger for it, and His revelation will include His purpose for each of us. As we are each called to different Kingdom assignments, according to God’s pre-ordained spiritual gifts, we mustn’t compare outcomes as measures of our success! We can be tempted by Satan to covet another’s gift by the lure of worldly recognition and esteem, but God has warned us that those who seek their reward here, will lose it in heaven. (Matt 6:1) It must be our heart’s longing to give all glory to Jesus, Who alone is worthy! If temptation to share His glory is our weakness, it is far better to seek other less risky channels for using our gifts. Faithfulness is God’s measure of our success for Him, as He ultimately ordains the outcome of everything! If we are faithful to Him, despite our circumstances, we will be rewarded in heaven! Some of us are, or will be, faced with very difficult trials, through which He offers His abiding Presence and grace to manage. Others of us will be given great blessings, which will be a trial of another sort — one which can seduce us to trust in them for our security and happiness, and numb our sense of needing God. May we always cling to our Savior for the needs of each moment, and trust Him for His provision! As He was faithful to Peter, James and John, He will be faithful to us!
October 13th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
darren, thank you for this devotional. in Deuteronomy 8:11(NRSV) it reads: ”Take care that you do not forget the Lord your God, by failing to keep his commandments, his ordinances, his statues which I am commanding you today.”
through experience i have seen the dangers of success in my life and although i considered myself successful in flesh, i was running a race i would never win. then a miracle happened, i had to feel the pain of falling of the ladder of success(which was always leaning on the wrong foundation). through His grace. any struggle I have experienced lately is because I made wrong choices, i studied His Word, but was not listening. but i keep going back to the right ladder against the right wall. if my nets are empty, again, that is the choices that I make. as in John 15:5, i am nothing without Jesus. now that i am in the bountiful arms of Christ Jesus, i take nothing for granted.
October 13th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Hi kanj! I love your statement that “if my nets are empty, again, that is the choices that I make.” You have learned a great spiritual lesson, dear one, for which God has blessed you! His blessing is directly related to our obedience. When we make choices that conflict with God’s will for us, we can expect that our nets will be empty! But, when we quiet ourselves, that we might hear His voice, and then obey, He fills our nets to overflowing! :)