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I. IS DISCHARGING THE DUTIES OF LIFE OUR BEST ENDEAVOURS MAY APPEAR FRUITLESS. Always discouraging to toil without success: in learning, business, religion. Our failures often arise —

(1)  through inexperience;

(2)  through indolence;

(3)  through impatience.None of these the case with Peter however. An experienced fisherman, and had toiled all the night. Continued fruitlessness ought to awaken candid investigation. Are we in a right sphere of labour? Are we labouring in a right spirit? We may be, and yet our best endeavours appear fruitless.

II. IN DISCHARGING THE DUTIES OF LIFE: WE MUST OBEY THE COMMANDS OF CHRIST.

1. In obeying Christ, Peter's faith rose above natural difficulties.

2. In obeying Christ, Peter's faith rested on Christ's command "At Thy word." No one else could have persuaded him to let down the net.

3. In obeying Christ, Peter's faith led to decisive action — "I will let down the net." Cultivate the habit of decision. The decisive man will catch his fish while the negligent man is preparing his nets.

III. IN DISCHARGING THE DUTIES OF LIFE, WE SHALL ULTIMATELY BE SUCCESSFUL. Success may be delayed for a time; but it will come. At the very moment of our failure God purposes to fill our nets.

(J. Woodhouse.)

"The livelong night we've toiled in vain,

But at Thy gracious word

I will let down the net again:

Do Thou Thy will, O Lord."

So spake the weary fisher, spent

With bootless, darkling toil,

Yet on his Master's bidding bent,

For love and not for spoil.

So day by day, and week by week,

In sad and weary thought,

They muse, whom God hath set to seek

The souls His Christ hath bought.

Full many a dreary, anxious hour

We watch our nets alone

In drenching spray and driving shower,

And hear the night-bird's moan.

At morn we look and nought is there

Sad dawn of cheerless day!

Who then from pining and despair

The sickening heart can stay?

There is a stay — and we are strong!

Our Master is at hand,

To cheer our solitary song,

And guide us to the strand.

In His own time; but yet awhile

Our bark at sea must ride

Cast after cast, by force or guise

All waters must be tried.

Should e'er Thy wonder-working grace

Triumph by our weak arm,

Lot not our sinful fancy trace

Aught human in the charm.

Or, if for our unworthiness,

Toil, prayer, and watching fail,

In disappointment Thou canst bless,

So love at heart prevail.

(J. Keble.)

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KJV: And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

WEB: When they had done this, they caught a great multitude of fish, and their net was breaking.