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enter His service. What the Lord said to Moses, he says to us all--"What is that in thine
hand?" (Exod. 4: 2). The fiery zeal of Saul the persecutor was not quenched at his
conversion, but sanctified and used in the service of his Lord. An art training that at first
seemed wasted has enabled the writer to prepare numerous charts for us at meetings; and
a knowledge of ornament and design has played some part in the perception of the
balance and underlying pattern of the structures of Scripture.
We note next that, whereas Peter and Andrew were "casting a net into the sea", James
and John with their father were "mending their nets". These operations represent two
necessary and interdependent pieces of work. A net, however well mended, is valueless
if it is never cast into the sea, while a net, however, vigorously cast into the sea, is
valueless if it is badly broken. The same Lord calls some to be "casters", and some
"menders". They are "fishers", not singly, but jointly. Some are called to preach; some
to teach. Some are called to gather in; others to build up. The Lord has need of all.
The word translated "mend" in Matt. 4: 21 is used by Paul of the ministry given by
the ascended Christ in connection with the dispensation of the mystery:--
"And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints" (Eph. 4: 11, 12).
It is also used of the very valuable ministry detailed in Gal. 6: 1:--
"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one,
in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."
Another important thing which must not be ignored is the evident fellowship of all
concerned. Andrew working amicably with Peter his brother; James and John together
with their father Zebedee. Unity in service is not always easy to attain. There is nearly
always some part of the service that is coveted by the fleshly mind, some office that is
apparent and will receive public recognition; while there are other essential acts of
service that can never be seen or assessed by man. Think of the many who must serve
unknown and unrecognized in order that the pen-written article now in progress may be
delivered in printed form to the home of the reader. The manuscript is passed on to
friends who, as a labour of love, turn the rapidly-written words into clear typewritten
characters. The type-script is then reviewed by other friends (who check all references),
so that nothing shall pass into print without being checked, to some degree. It is then
carefully made ready for the printer, punctuation marks, paragraphs and headings
examined and style of type decided. Then there is the printing and proof-reading, the
addressing of envelopes, the making up of parcels and the actual posting. And yet in
most cases the only person actually thought of by the reader, if thought of at all, is the
original writer, whose work would be useless without this co-operation.
Another important point in the passage under consideration is the unquestioning
obedience of the four men. "They straightway left their nets." "They immediately left
the ship and their father." Their nets represented their trade; their ship, the whole of