“When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” – Matthew 9:36-38
How many of us go about life missing the “harvests” the Lord has placed in front of us because we are too busy focusing on our own goals or priorities?
Jesus was the most selfless servant of all. He looked out at the crowds of people gathering around Him and saw the people through an eternal lens…desperate, hopeless, hurting – “like sheep without a shepherd.” His heart was compassionate for the lost and hurting.
He then told His disciples to PRAY.
Notice that.
Before the disciples were to do anything, they were to first PRAY. This is the most important reminder for those of us who desire to be a laborer for the Lord. Before we can do anything, we must first PRAY. Pray to the LORD who is in charge of the harvest.
We’re not in charge of the harvest, God is. Our best versions of ourselves, best church programs, best ministry outreaches are never what influences the outcome of successful ministry. To put it simply, a successful spiritual harvesting of people responding to the message of the Gospel and receiving Christ is never a work of man, but is ALWAYS a miraculous work of God’s Holy Spirit.
Therefore, for those of us who want to labor for the Lord – we must first learn to labor in prayer. Asking the Lord to give us eyes to see the harvest in front of us. Asking to mold our hearts to His that we would care for the needs of others and be broken over what breaks God’s heart. And asking Him to send those He desires to send into His fields to harvest for His glory.
May we be prayerful and ready for the Lord’s call, so that should the opportunity arise to step out into the fields and harvest souls for the kingdom of God, we’re available and willing because we’ve already been laboring in prayer.
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