PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 9:35-38
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:38)
Why does God (the Lord of the harvest) need to be asked to send out workers?
Is God waiting to be asked before He will send out workers?
In this passage Jesus sees the crowds who need help, who need compassion.
His compassion motivates Him to share God’s kingdom hope and help.
This passage makes me reflect on my own prayer and motivation?
Am I even aware of the crowds around me that are harassed and helpless?
Do I see people as ready for grace and restoration (i.e. to be harvested)?
Is my compassion motivated towards those trapped within lives of misery?
God is not waiting for us to ask; God is waiting for us to care and to help!
This ‘asking’ is the ‘asking’ of those who are busy lifting, and need help.
Those who have compassion and are doing their part to help WILL cry out for help.
So is it my lack of compassion and commitment that keeps me from asking?
If I cared for the people living around me, wouldn’t I plead with God for help?
Jesus cares and is committed; He is pleading with us join Him in caring and helping!
PRAYER
Lord, the need around me is too great… which is exactly why I should be crying out to You for help. Motivate my heart and hands with compassion, and may my prayers reflect my eager desire to help.
Jesus and His ministry’s need for workers is greater than our need to stay within our comfort zone. For me, its harder sometimes to reach out to help than it is to ask for help. Sometimes its the other way around; the harder one is usually the one I need to do. We also need to help make more workers!
The religious leaders of the day were legalists, living by their own man made laws not showing the love of God by serving the people and meeting their needs. I need to live the love of God each day being Spirit driven, clothed in His armour producing the fruit of the Spirit. Today as everyday, God is First and I can only do that when He leads and guides me in the way I should go. Help me this day Lord to be Your servant true.
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace
Where there’s hatred, let me sow love
And where there is injury, pardon
And where there is doubt, then faith
And where there’s despair, then hope
It’s in dying that I will be born
And in giving that I will receive
It’s in loving that I will be loved
This is my faith, it is what I believe
Lord, make me an instrument
Make me an instrument
Lord, I am a stranger traveling
In a brutal yet wondrous land
Far from the promise of home
On a journey led by Your hand
To where the lion lies down with the lamb
Father, grant that I’d never seek
To be comforted as to console
Let the blood of Your Son cover me
Touching my spirit
Seizing my soul
Lord, make me an instrument
Lord, make me an instrument
Lord make me your instrument
Let Your divine mystery guide my heart
It’s in dying that I will be born
And in giving that I will receive
It’s in loving that I will be loved
This is my faith, it is what I believe
Christ within me
Christ before me
Christ behind me
Christ above me
Christ beneath me
To my left and my right
Christ where I lie and where I arise
Christ in the hearts of all who think of me
Christ on the lips of all who speak of me
Christ in the eyes of all who see me
Make me Your instrument, Lord
Make me Your instrument, Lord
Make me Your instrument, Lord
Make me Your instrument, Lord
Make me Your instrument
It is so easy to just be complacent and not caring. We can also be caring but not act on it! Jesus had compassion for the people and he acted – he went out and taught, healed and cast out demons – and he trained his disciples so that the Good News reached us as well. I too, must be caring and have the same compassion for people as Jesus. Help me respond to those whom you place in my path – to bear witness to the hope I have in you! I am a worker in His harvest field – and I am not alone -help me to see the harvest that is plentiful and ask for more workers to help gather in the harvest. Give me eyes to see and a heart of compassion that responds to the needs around me!
Jesus saw the crowds and saw that they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He had compassion for them. Lord Jesus, help me to pray earnestly for helpers to be sent out into the harvest. Help me to be compassionate and ready to help.
Lord Jesus forgive my lack of compassion. Help me to be compassionate like Jesus O Holy Spirit and open my eyes that I may see the crowd around me who are helpless and ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field.