Making the Harvest a Priority
Scripture Reading — Matthew 9:35-38
“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” -Matthew 9:37
At this time of year many people find themselves in the midst of a busy harvest season. The fields are bursting with grain. Farmers are eager to reap what they have sown and worked hard for.
In our reading for today, Jesus tells us that this same spiritual condition exists around us, “The harvest is plentiful.” He says something similar in John 4:35: “Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” In other words, there are people all around us who are ready to come to Christ. They just need to be loved and invited.
The trouble is that Christians have a hard time believing this. We often feel as if people are not really interested. But God has created us all with a “God-sized” hole in our hearts that can only be filled by him. Most people are surprisingly open to exploring faith issues.
According to Jesus, the problem is not a lack of spiritual interest on the part of most people; it’s a lack of kingdom harvesters. That’s why he says, “Ask the Lord of the harvest . . . to send out workers into his harvest field.” Imagine acres and acres of ripened fruit ready to be picked, and yet the workers are few. Will you help?
Now is harvesttime. Will you join me in praying that God will raise up more kingdom harvesters? Will you consider becoming one?
Lord of the harvest, stir within us a deep desire to do your work in this world. Give us opportunities to share your story--and the joy of helping others to know you. Amen.
About the author — Dan Jongsma
Daniel Jongsma serves as an interim pastor in Fulton, Illinois. He has pastored congregations in Elmhurst and Fulton, Illinois; in Dearborn, Michigan; and in Nashville, Tennessee. Dan also served as a church planter in the Chicago area. He and his wife, Gloria, have three daughters and four grandchildren.
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