The Harvest is Plentiful
"The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." - Matthew 9:37b-38.
"The harvest is plentiful,..."
I don't always believe this. I look around and I see people of different faiths or no faith at all. I'm told to be polite and courteous in my witnessing, respecting the beliefs of others. I don't know many recent converts to Christianity. Most of the people I know who are Christians grew up in the church or came to know Christ in college. I know that I've been a part of people coming to know Christ as personal Lord, but I've only witnessed the entire process once or twice. How can the harvest be plentiful?
Jesus continues, "but the laborers are few..."
Perhaps this is why I don't always believe that the harvest is plentiful, there just aren't that many laborers. I can count the number of full time missionaries I know on one hand. Every once and a while I catch a glimpse of someone sharing their faith on the metro or at work, but I don't see it that often. And how many times have I been a witness with not only my actions, but my words also? Perhaps I don't recognize that the harvest is plentiful, because it isn't that often that I witness a laborer harvesting.
"ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
Oh boy, I know where this goes. If I ask "the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers" I know what the result will be. Ever share a need with a pastor only to have the pastor respond "perhaps God is calling you to respond to that need"? Ever tell your boss an idea, only to have your boss respond "Great! Gather a team, I put you in charge of implementing this"? Ever ask your parents for help tieing your shoes and your parents responded, "Here, I'll teach you how to tie your own shoes."
If I want to see evidence of this harvest, I need to ask God to "send out laborers into his harvest," "but the laborers are few." Perhaps I'm not only to pray that God send out laborers, but perhaps I am to become a laborer myself. And if the harvest truly is plentiful and God has prepared the harvest, why should I be afraid? If the harvest is large, there are many crops that are ready to harvest. My harvesting will be successful! Perhaps I need to instead pray "God send me as a laborer into Your fields and show me how great is the harvest!"
Prayer: Lord of the harvest, send out laborers into Your harvest. While doing that, grant me the eyes to see how great is the harvest! And if I happen to be one of those laborers you call, give me the skills I need to be successful in expanding Your kingdom on this earth.
"The harvest is plentiful,..."
I don't always believe this. I look around and I see people of different faiths or no faith at all. I'm told to be polite and courteous in my witnessing, respecting the beliefs of others. I don't know many recent converts to Christianity. Most of the people I know who are Christians grew up in the church or came to know Christ in college. I know that I've been a part of people coming to know Christ as personal Lord, but I've only witnessed the entire process once or twice. How can the harvest be plentiful?
Jesus continues, "but the laborers are few..."
Perhaps this is why I don't always believe that the harvest is plentiful, there just aren't that many laborers. I can count the number of full time missionaries I know on one hand. Every once and a while I catch a glimpse of someone sharing their faith on the metro or at work, but I don't see it that often. And how many times have I been a witness with not only my actions, but my words also? Perhaps I don't recognize that the harvest is plentiful, because it isn't that often that I witness a laborer harvesting.
"ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
Oh boy, I know where this goes. If I ask "the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers" I know what the result will be. Ever share a need with a pastor only to have the pastor respond "perhaps God is calling you to respond to that need"? Ever tell your boss an idea, only to have your boss respond "Great! Gather a team, I put you in charge of implementing this"? Ever ask your parents for help tieing your shoes and your parents responded, "Here, I'll teach you how to tie your own shoes."
If I want to see evidence of this harvest, I need to ask God to "send out laborers into his harvest," "but the laborers are few." Perhaps I'm not only to pray that God send out laborers, but perhaps I am to become a laborer myself. And if the harvest truly is plentiful and God has prepared the harvest, why should I be afraid? If the harvest is large, there are many crops that are ready to harvest. My harvesting will be successful! Perhaps I need to instead pray "God send me as a laborer into Your fields and show me how great is the harvest!"
Prayer: Lord of the harvest, send out laborers into Your harvest. While doing that, grant me the eyes to see how great is the harvest! And if I happen to be one of those laborers you call, give me the skills I need to be successful in expanding Your kingdom on this earth.
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