March 18, 2004



We Must Do What Jesus said!

“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
Therefore, beseech the Lord of the harvest
to send out workers into His harvest.
( Matt 9:37-38)

Jesus looked beyond the pretense on the outside and the pain on the inside and He saw the potential of changed lives. He called it a harvest!

Then, He gave specific instructions to His disciples. Today, we are the disciples of Christ and we must also follow this instruction of our Lord.

“Therefore…” As we see what Jesus sees—we must do what Jesus said do! The harvest is there but the workers are not. The crop is ready but there’s no one in the field to reap it. Seeing the abundant harvest and the lack of workers, Jesus said, “Now, here’s what you are to do: pray.”

What difference does our praying make? Does is seem unusual that simple farm hands like me and you are told to beg the land owner to send out more workers into His harvest? We don’t have to beg God to make Him care; we know He cares about the harvest. We are told to ask God to send workers into His harvest. And we know that is what He wants to do.

God has ordained that the prayers of His people should precede the work of His harvest. He involves His people in His work: before, during and after. He uses His people to prepare the harvest. He uses His people to plant for the harvest and He uses His people to reap the harvest. Then, His people praise Him for the work of His grace!

Through prayer He changes us, He teaches us, He brings us to the point of availability, He sends us. He allows us to join Him in His work and then puts us into the right place…so He can work through us!

During the next few days we will keep looking at these words as we seek to do what Jesus said for us to do. Today, let’s make this our prayer…

Father,
We want to see the harvest through Your eyes. We know You are seeking worshippers and we want to join You in Your work. In simple child-like faith, we will do what Jesus said for us to do. We pray: Lord of the harvest—send forth workers into Your harvest. As I pray, I present my life to You in worship and I pray, ”Here am I, send me!”

We pray in Jesus’ Name, Amen