Lessons For Christian Workers # 1

Lessons For Christian Workers # 1

In the account of the manifestation of Christ to His disciples at the Sea of Galilee, there are many instructive suggestions for Christian workers in all times.

To begin with, the picture of the Master standing on the shore, in the grey dawn, watching His disciples as they wearily dragged their nets through the water - is most encouraging to all who are fishing for souls. Thus He ever stands with His eyes upon those who are toiling for Him. The thought should be full of cheer and inspiration. We should always do our best - for the Master's eye is always upon us. It is with a look of loving interest that he watches - not with the eye of criticism and blame.

Then the disciples' night of fruitless toil has for all workers its deep suggestion. No doubt the incident was meant to teach a spiritual lesson: Christ was not with them - so nothing came of their efforts. All night they had been drawing their nets through the waters, and in the morning they were still empty.

It is just thus with the workers always, when they try to save souls in their own strength. Even Christian work amounts to nothing, unless it is directed and inspired by Christ Himself. We should go always from our knees - to our pulpit, to our bible class, to all our missionary efforts. If we do not, it is really not worth while for us to go at all. That certainly was the lesson which Jesus meant to teach His apostles that weary night on the Sea of Galilee. Until we learn it, too, we shall never have success in winning souls and in doing good.

But the moment the Master had spoken and the weary fishermen had done His bidding, their net was full! Toil guided by Christ, is always successful. No effort put forth under His direction can ever fail. No net cast at His bidding is ever drawn up empty. No sermon preached, no lesson taught, no word spoken simply and truly for Christ, in obedience to His command - ever returns void.

If we would do Christ's work, we must be in immediate communion with Him. When He sends forth a worker, He says, "I am with you always." This promise means what it says, and the very first thing we should do if we would be used by Christ in saving souls and in blessing the world, is to realize His continual presence and put ourselves entirely under His guidance. This implies a life of constant communion with Christ. We cannot live far from Him, and be really used by Him. Someone says, "Christ always uses the vessel that He finds near His hand.!

Another important suggestion is this narrative, is that deep and sincere love for Christ is the one essential qualification in workers for souls. Perhaps we have too much overlooked this truth. We have not failed to appreciate the necessity of education and training in those who would do Christ's work. We insist on our pastors being familiar with the arts and sciences, with Hebrew and Greek, with church history - and this is well. Christ educated His apostles, teaching them for three years, until their minds were thoroughly imbued with the truth, and they were thus prepared to expound to men the doctrines of His kingdom and tell sinners the way of salvation.

But His treatment of Peter when He would restore him to the apostleship from which he had fallen, suggests to us that without personal loyalty and devotion to Christ, and deep love for Him, no one is ready to be entrusted by the Master with the care of souls. The highest learning, the most persuasive eloquence, the most faithful preparation, the best natural gifts - avail nothing if to the question, "Do you love Me?" the answer does not come welling up from the heart, "Lord, you know that I love You!" Love for the work is not enough, nor is love for the Church, or love for children, or love for humanity; the heart of all true discipleship is deep, strong, intense, all-absorbing love for Christ! Personal devotion to Jesus is the secret of all acceptable service. It was this passion for Christ that made Paul the marvelous missionary that he was. "The love of Christ constrains me!" was the only reason he gave for his burning zeal which men misnamed madness. We talk about a "passion for souls." But above that, is the essential qualification in a Christian worker: love for Christ Himself must be behind all, and must kindle all true love for souls.

~J. R. Miller~

(continued with # 2)