Matthew 9:18-38; Leviticus 5; Leviticus 6; Proverbs 21

“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 9:36-38 NKJV)

Jesus did so much: He taught in the synagogues, He preached about the Kingdom of God, and He healed people from sickness and disease. Then, He looked around and saw the multitudes coming to Him. All His work hadn’t even put a dent in the number of people who needed His ministry. He was moved with compassion. OK, confession time here, I walk or drive by a few people in need, and I turn my head so that I don’t have to see them. Jesus saw the multitudes and He called on the disciples to pray for the Lord to send workers into the fields to meet their needs. And here’s the sneaky part of that prayer request: Jesus expected His disciples, the ones He had called on to pray, to be an answer to that prayer and do God’s work among the people. If we look at our world today, we see multitudes who need to know the life changing good news about Jesus. Jesus asked His disciples to pray, and He still asks those of us who follow Him to pray that same prayer. And He still expects those who pray that prayer to be part of the answer. There are so many who need to hear the good news and He calls us to share that news with others.

Let’s start off with the most important part of that exchange: prayer. Have you asked God to send workers out into the Harvest? If not, is it because, like me at times, you lack compassion? Even though I don’t want to see people who are needy at times, God still calls me to see them and have compassion. Look at the people in need, pray for God to give you compassion if you need to do that, and then pray for God to send out laborers into the vineyard. The next part of that is the hard part: if you pray, are you willing to be part of the answer to your own prayer? Ask God to show you how to work in His harvest. Act on His promptings when you see people who need to know the good news of Jesus.

Lord, there are so many people who need ministry and need to hear the good news of Your Kingdom. Give me Your compassion for them. Give me wisdom as You send me out to share Your love and good news. Encourage me in the work that still needs to be done.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.