Compassion and a Call to Prayer!
Scripture reading for October 23: Matthew 9:35-37 “And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and affliction. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
Jesus Christ, God’s Son, was moved with compassion to meet the desperate needs of God’s people. As He went from village to village preaching and healing the people, there were many hurting and afflicted people. Some were in a hopeless state and were beaten down by Satan’s attacks. Jesus used His own ministry to teach His disciples how to help people. Each one was being equipped to do the ministry of preaching the Gospel and laying hands on the sick and oppressed. But Jesus had a larger ‘Master-plan” that He was revealing to the disciples.
Jesus wanted to multiply ministry beyond the twelve He was training. He called them together and pointed them to the vast harvest of hurting and lost souls. He plainly stated the great harvest that was ready to be reaped and pointed out the lack of workers to bring the Father’s children into His family. His instruction specifically called them to pray to the Father, the Lord of the harvest, appealing to Him to send out laborers. Only God could call the laborers. As they prayed, they also were making themselves available to go and to train more disciples, thus multiplying ministry to bring in God’s harvest.
It is through relationship with Jesus and the Father that we hear His call to enter the harvest field. When we are born again, we receive God’s heart of compassion in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps us to pray for more laborers. He wants us to do ministry ourselves, reaching our assigned field, but also to multiply ministry through prayer and discipleship. Through relationship with Jesus, the Father, and His Holy Spirit His healing work will be accomplished.
Prayer. Father God, thank You that You are the Lord of the harvest. You want all the harvest to be brought in and we partner with You through prayer and preaching and healing to multiply the workers. Amen.
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