January 27, 2005

“Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into the harvest.” Matthew 9:36-37

Immediately after seeing the spiritual condition of the crowd, that they were as sheep without a shepherd, Jesus instructed His disciples.

One would think that Jesus would tell them to go and start building relationships with them or perhaps even to go and begin meeting the physical and emotional needs of those hurting and struggling. But that was not what He immediately called them to do.

He challenged them to “beseech the Lord of the harvest.” He called them to pray because there was a great harvest to be sewn, but the workers were few. He challenged them to ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers into the harvest.

We have seen the last couple of days how important it is to see what Jesus sees. But that is not enough. We also have to be willing to do what Jesus has called us to do. He has called us to pray!.

We can learn so much about living a life for Christ through the recorded prayers in Scripture. In John 17 we read a prayer of Jesus.

“Father, the hour has come, glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, even as You have Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.” (verses 1-4)

Jesus’ one desire was to glorify God by accomplishing the work that the Heavenly Father had given Him to do. Jesus came to give eternal life. He was willing to do whatever it took to accomplish His mission.

Today, would you be willing to ask the Lord to send workers into the harvest who would view life like Jesus did? Would you be willing to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit in order to accomplish the work set before us?

How wonderful it would be, if as Christ followers, we could stand at the judgment seat and say, “I glorified You on earth, having accomplished the work which You have given me to do…”