Laboring in the Harvest

In my devotional reading today, I was in Matthew 9:18-38. I encourage you to go and read that section of scripture because it is very encouraging and also convicting. Jesus is basically going on a healing circuit.

He begins in v.18 by going with a religious leader to heal his daughter when a woman who had suffered from bleeding for 12 years comes up behind him to touch the tassels of His robe to be healed. He goes to the religious leader's home and heals his daughter.

In v.27, two blind men come up to him and beg him to heal them. He does and asks them not tell anyone. They cannot help but proclaim thier healing. A demon possessed man in v.32 is brought to Him and Jesus casts the demon out.

Then in v.35 it says, "Then Jesus went to all the towns and villages, teaching in thier synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness."

Sounds like a full day doesn't it?

In v. 36 Jesus sees the crowd and "has compassion for them because they were weary and worn out like sheep without a shepherd."

This is where it gets interesting. Instead of burning Himself out, (remember that Jesus is as much human as divine), He makes an interesting statement to His disciples.

Verses 37-38 says, "The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest."

Notice a couple of things here with me. The problem is not with the harvest. Jesus plainly states it "is abundant." That means there are people everywhere who are just like the crowd Jesus saw-weary and worn out, looking for meaning in life. The issue lies in the fact there are so few people willing to go out among the harvest and reap souls for God's kingdom.

What would happen in churches all across the country if people were willing to go out into the harvest? Sanctuaries would be full and communites would be transformed. I believe the most important prayer church leaders and lay leaders across the country could pray is the challenge Jesus issued: "pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest."

If we cured that problem, all the other problems in the church would be solved as well. Make that your prayer today.

Expecting Great Things,
Pastor Bryan