The Harvest is Plentiful

Intro:

I was driving through vast wheat fields in South Western Australia whilst on holidays with Jayne and thought to myself: “What happens to unharvested wheat?”

When I researched it, I found that unharvested wheat degrades the grain creating conditions susceptible to disease and contamination. What a shame for the wheat! But applied to seeing people unable to hear the Good News of Jesus, what a grief to the Lord!

Opening Prayer:

Oh Lord, break our hearts with what breaks your’s! Souls left without the opportunity to hear the Good News, having never heard the name of your Son, Jesus. Truly we know that you long for your children to be reconciled to you, Father God. Let us hear and see the urgency to be involved in the harvest to give people the opportunity to know and love you.

Amen

Bible Verse:

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

(Mathew 9:35-38 NIV)

Reflection:

About 40% (3.2 Billion people) of our world do not have access to hear about Jesus in a meaningful way. Lost and without hope. This breaks the heart of the Father wanting to reconcile with His children.

What’s your response? Oh – that’s too many people to conceive? I can’t do anything. It’s too overwhelming.

Perhaps another response is: “Lord, here I am, use me”. Where can you show and share the love of Jesus today, this week, month or year?

I was so struck with this verse in 1985, that I prayed for unreached people, particularly focussed on India, ate the food and read missionary books…for 15 years before the Lord opened up the opportunity for me to go. From there, I’ve been to many nations showing and sharing the Good News of Jesus and multiplying the harvest through strengthening local workers.

What’s your response? It need not be exactly the same as mine. Not at all. But what is the Lord asking you to do? How will you be one of his harvesters making sure not to leave any unharvested wheat?

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for the privilege to have our hearts broken with what breaks yours…lives lost without ever hearing the name of Jesus. Help me, help each one of us, be harvesters in our own ways and in our own contexts and showing your Good News.

Amen