Morning, October 8
Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings
Luke 5:4
"Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught."
Luke 5:4
We learn from this narrative, the necessity of human agency. The
draught of fishes was miraculous, yet neither the fisherman nor his
boat, nor his fishing tackle were ignored; but all were used to take
the fishes. So in the saving of souls, God worketh by means; and while
the present economy of grace shall stand, God will be pleased by the
foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. When God worketh
without instruments, doubtless he is glorified; but he hath himself
selected the plan of instrumentality as being that by which he is most
magnified in the earth. Means of themselves are utterly unavailing.
"Master, we have toiled all the night and have taken nothing." What was
the reason of this? Were they not fishermen plying their special
calling? Verily, they were no raw hands; they understood the work. Had
they gone about the toil unskilfully? No. Had they lacked industry? No,
they had toiled. Had they lacked perseverance? No, they had toiled all
the night. Was there a deficiency of fish in the sea? Certainly not,
for as soon as the Master came, they swam to the net in shoals. What,
then, is the reason? Is it because there is no power in the means of
themselves apart from the presence of Jesus? "Without him we can do
nothing." But with Christ we can do all things. Christ's presence
confers success. Jesus sat in Peter's boat, and his will, by a
mysterious influence, drew the fish to the net. When Jesus is lifted up
in his Church, his presence is the Church's power--the shout of a king
is in the midst of her. "I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto
me." Let us go out this morning on our work of soul fishing, looking up
in faith, and around us in solemn anxiety. Let us toil till night
comes, and we shall not labour in vain, for he who bids us let down the
net, will fill it with fishes.