One of the first things I did when I got my own house was plant an herb garden. I loved the idea of cooking with fresh herbs whenever I wanted. I wanted parsley for homemade pasta sauce, rosemary for roasting chicken, basil for fresh pesto, and any other herb I could get my hands on.
After the hard work of fencing off an area for the garden, planting the seeds, and watering the ground, I had a beautiful, green, fragrant herb garden growing right next to my back porch. And then, I used them once. After all the time and effort that I poured into my herb garden, all I had to show for it was one batch of homemade pesto sauce. Those herbs had the potential to flavor countless delicious meals, but since I never harvested them, they remained just an herb garden.
In Luke chapter 10, Jesus sends out disciples to towns and villages to preach the Gospel, heal the sick, and tell people that the kingdom of God is near.
These were his instructions to them: “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.” (Luke 10:2, NLT)
Paul gave a similar charge to the church in Rome:
But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? (Romans 10: 14-15)
Scripture tells us that we live in a fallen world (Genesis 3), meaning that the world is full of people who are hurting, sick, lonely, broken, and empty. Jesus compassionately saw them as “confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36).” Each one of these people has the potential to experience the transformation, restoration, and sanctification that comes through a relationship with Jesus Christ. However, if no one reaches out to them with the hope of the Gospel, they will remain lost, confused, and helpless.
Let us decide today that the harvest that Jesus spoke of in Luke 10:2 and Matthew 9:37-38 will not be wasted like my herb garden. Let us make a commitment to praying to the Father to send more workers into His fields.
Father God, we thank You that You are the Lord of the harvest. We pray today that You would prepare and send out more people to share Your love and truth with a hurting world. Every day, we see countless people who need to know You. Please give us Your compassion for the lost. Stir our hearts to echo the call of the prophet Isaiah: “Here I am. Send me (Isaiah 6:8).” Equip us with the courage and strength to help gather Your great harvest.
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns! (Isaiah 52:7)
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Scripture is quoted from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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