When you look at the world around you, what do you see?

It’s easy to see problems.

It’s easy to see…

• division
• confusion
• hostility toward the church
• and indifference to the Gospel

But what does Jesus see?

Right before these verses, Matthew tells us that Jesus saw the crowds and

“had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

Jesus does not see an inconvenience. He sees a harvest. A harvest is something ready. Something prepared. Something waiting to be gathered in.

And then Jesus says something surprising.

He doesn’t tell His disciples first to “go.” He tells them to pray.

“Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers.”

The mission of the church does not begin with strategy. It begins with prayer.

God is the Lord of the harvest. The people belong to Him. The timing belongs to Him. The growth belongs to Him.

And yet, He invites us to ask.

We pray for pastors, teachers, missionaries, and church workers. We pray that God would raise up faithful men and women to serve in our congregation and beyond. We pray for boldness to speak the truth in love.

Right now, there is a shortage of pastors, teachers, and youth workers in the church. We need more church workers. But we should also notice something else.

When you pray for workers, you may find that God is preparing you.

Jesus told the disciples to pray that the Lord would send laborers into the harvest and the next thing we see in Matthew is Jesus sending the disciples. Sometimes the laborer God sends is the one who is praying.

For some of you, that may mean becoming a pastor, deaconess, teacher, or youth minister. However, these are not the only ones sent into the harvest. In fact, the members of the church congregations tend to be more “in the fields” and have more opportunity to bring in the harvest.

All Christians are Christ’s disciples and all have been sent, including you.

You may not preach a sermon. You may not go overseas. But you may have a conversation. You may invite someone to church. You may show mercy to a neighbor. You may speak Christ into someone’s confusion.

The harvest is plentiful.

Jesus still has compassion.

And He still tells us to pray.

So, let’s do that. Let’s pray…

Heavenly Father,

You are the Lord of the harvest. Have compassion on our community and draw many to faith in Christ. Raise up faithful workers for Your church, and prepare my heart to serve where You send me.

Amen

As part of your devotion time, I encourage you to also pray for at least some of the following:

• Your family
• Your local church
• Your pastor
• Some of your fellow church members
• The people on your B.L.E.S.S. list
• Your country and her leaders
• Your community

After praying for these people, you may want to finish your devotion time with the Lord’s Prayer…

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. They will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and every. Amen.