十月八日
把船開到水深之處，下網打魚。（路5：4）
我們從這一段事知道人的工作也是需要的，這一次的打魚是一件神迹，但是也幷未忽視漁夫、船和網；這一切都是用以打魚的。所以神在就靈魂的工作上也用人的方法；恩典的法度雖然屹立不變，但拙劣的講道如能救信的人，也能使神喜悅。當神不用工具而工作的時候，當然他能得榮耀；但他也借助于某種計劃使他在地上大得贊美。光靠這些是完全無用的、“我們整夜勞力，幷沒有打著什麽。”這是什麽緣故呢？他們不是些老練的漁夫嗎？當然，他們不是外行；他們對于打魚的技術都很精通。他們是隨隨便便地勞力嗎？他們不殷勤嗎？不，他們很勞力。他們沒有恒心嗎？不，他們已經整夜勞力。海裏沒有魚嗎？當然不是的，因爲當主來到，他們就得了許多魚，甚至網險些裂開。
那末，這是什麽緣故呢？這不是因爲他們離了主什麽方法也沒有用嗎！“離了他，我們就不能作什麽。”但有了基督，我們什麽都能作了。有基督同在才能成功。耶穌坐在彼得的船上，他能用他奇妙的大能使魚進入網中。當耶穌在他的教會中被高舉之後，他的同在便是教會的能力——君王在他裏面發號施令。“我若從地上被舉起來，就要吸引萬人來歸我。”今晨我們要去作打靈魂的工作，要憑信心仰望神，幷爲周圍環繞我們的人發熱心。讓我們勞力工作直到晚上，我們的工作必不徒然，因爲主吩咐我們下網，我們就能打滿了魚。
October
8
“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.
