But no! The Lord did not call them until after they attained success. Now, after they scored a business success, He put the test to these men whether they were willing to give up their nets and follow Him.
Sometime after that, Peter says: “We have left every thing to follow Thee.” What did Peter leave? Why, a few old broken nets! And it is just so now. People leave a few old broken nets, and then say to the Lord: “We have left every thing to follow Thee.”
The next glimpse we catch of Peter is when he takes on the character of a doubter. You will find, if you read it over, that it is our own experience right over again. Peter got to doubting.
In the fourteenth chapter of Matthew, beginning at the twenty-second verse, you will find these words:
“And straightway Jesus constrained His disciples to get into a ship, and to go before Him unto the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.
“And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up into a mountain apart to pray; and when the evening was come He was there alone.
“But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves; for the wind was contrary.
“And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
“And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying: ‘It is a spirit.’ And they cried out for fear.
“But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying: ‘Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.’