After the resurrection of Christ the disciples were told by the Lord to go up to Galilee and He would see them there. In John 21:2, we learn that "Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of His disciples" went to Galilee and waited for Christ to come.

While waiting, Peter said, "I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing" (v. 3).

Their purpose was good; their fellowship was unified, but the result of a night of toiling was nil—"they caught nothing." But why?

Is it not quite obvious that they acted without orders from the Lord? Nor do we read that they prayed about what to do. Undoubtedly they had forgotten what Jesus told them in the upper room before going to the cross, "Without Me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5).

However, the Lord is very much aware of their situation. "When the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus" (v. 4). Then Jesus began to faithfully, patiently teach them a lesson in a way they would not likely forget. If they were to be His witnesses, as they were to be, they must be made to realize the Lordship of their resurrected Christ and the necessity to wait for, and act upon, His orders alone if they would be successful fishers of men.

He first calls to them, asking if they had any meat. They quite abruptly reply, "No!" Immediately He calls across the water, "Cast the net on the right side of the ship and ye shall find." they did as He said and their catch was so great they could not draw iin the net because of the multitude of fishes (v. 6).

It is then that John recognizes Him and told the others, "It is the Lord!" Peter at once plunges into the sea and swims o Jesus. When the rest of them came to shore in the boat dragging the net full of fishes, what did they find? "They saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon and bread." Jesus had made breakfast for them. He then invited them, saying, "Come and dine." He became the Host and took bread and gave it to them, and fish also. He fed them! Read verses 7-14.

Can we not see in this remarkable incident some important basic principles for us if there is to be success in witnessing as fishers of men?

FIRST: Let us always seek the Lord's mind and await His orders for our service, no matter what we do. In the language of Paul the apostle, let us truly inquire, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" (Acts 9:6).

SECOND: Let Him feed our souls with the food He has prepared. We can do nothing in our own strength, but His strength is imparted to us by "the bread and fish." Let us gratefully receive the nourishment derived from His Person and work as revealed in His Word.

Success is promised as Joshua 1:8 declares: "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt have good success." In the confidence this inspires, let's truly, with purpose say, "I go a fishing!"