What do you ask for regularly? What is it you continually go to God for? Is it something you want? Is it a deficiency you are seeking to overcome? Is it a need? Is it financial? Is it a relationship? Is it a job? How would it change if you asked God for what God wants?
We are told pray regularly. We may even feel guilty if we do not pray regularly. Often our prayers include asking for healing, successful surgeries, quick rehabilitation, financial stability, relationship reconciliation, a new job, a new house, a new car, and many others.
Jesus tells us we should also pray for laborers to harvest. Harvest what? Disciples! There are many people who are seeking answers and seeking truth. We know there is one source that is always true and that is God. Just as the fields of grain ripen and need to be harvested, so the human population ripens and needs to be harvested.
As we look across history, there is a rhythm to this harvest. We can see times when people turned to God in multitudes and other times when they turned away. We have been through a time of turning away for the past few decades, but we are now entering a time when people are turning to God. Jesus’ statement to ask for laborers to go into the harvest is very appropriate for us today.
Laboring in the fields is hard. It requires us to stretch ourselves. We must get outside our comfort zones. We must tell people about Jesus and invite them to join us for worship. Once we have convinced them they need to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, our work is not done. We must continue to grow them into the disciples God desires. Being a laborer is a continual planting, watering, harvesting, and discipling.
I pray we all pray that God sends laborers into the harvest. I pray we are willing to be a laborer in the harvest. I pray each one of us will plant, water, harvest, and disciple others for Jesus. Pray for laborers in God’s harvest. Be a laborer. Be a planter. Be a waterer. Be a harvester. Be a disciple.
Matthew 9:37-38 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Marty Pressey 