Then Jesus went
about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the
gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the
people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them,
because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He
said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers
are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His
harvest." (Matthew 9:35-38 NKJ)
For the last two
days, news media in Alabama has focused on the winter gridlock resulting from
snow and ice across most of our state. Across the city streets and state
highways, they have shown long lines of stalled traffic, abandoned cars,
stranded people, and people walking to the nearest warm haven.
The media has
reported many accounts of good Samaritans offering water and snacks and other
help to stranded motorists. Jeff Honeycutt, a young Deacon at our church, was
out in his 4-wheel drive truck helping several people, either with their
automobiles or transporting them to warmth and safety. Only God holds the
record of how many people he helped in their hour of need.
The media and
Matthew's narrative turned my thoughts to how Jesus saw people in crisis
situations. He had been all over the country "teaching and preaching the
gospel of the kingdom." In addition, he healed "every sickness and
disease among the people." And multitudes of people followed him to
receive their needs too.
As Jesus looked out
upon the mass of people, he saw "weary and scattered" people who
reminded him of sheep that were without a shepherd. They were weary because of
their situations. They were scattered because they were going in every
direction trying to get help from someone, -- anyone -- somewhere.
And he recognized
this as a teaching moment. He said to his disciples, "The harvest truly is
plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to
send out laborers into His harvest" (v.38). His message is clear: the people
are important; the harvest of the kingdom is important, but you can't stand by
and moan about the lack of workers. Do something about people. Do something in
the harvest. And while you are doing it, pray for more workers to be sent to
help.
From God's
perspective "the harvest truly is plentiful." There is more harvest
work to be done than workers to do it. God is not flippant concerning the
harvest. The marvel of a crisis is that doors are opened to minister in the
harvest.
This time it may be
giving a coat to keep a person warm, a bottle of water to keep someone
hydrated, or a pack of cookies to satisfy a child's hunger, but Jesus said,
"whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the
name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his
reward" (Matthew
10:42 NKJ).
Dear Father, thank
you for calling me into your kingdom. Empower me to see the huge harvest and
enable me to seize every opportunity to do harvest ministry. I pray this in the
name of Jesus. AMEN
Turn Every Action
Into Specific Harvest Work Today.
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