Harvest. Workers. Fields.
So sometimes this is gonna be about life, but sometimes it's going to be like a glimpse into my time with the Lord for the day. It's funny...once in a while someone is bold enough to criticize directly to me (which I applaud rather than behind my back) that I am too open or that I share too much or that I'm using Facebook or Blogging to air my problems or get attention. I've learned to take people's opinions of my heart with a grain of salt-I'm confident in Christ and what He thinks, and He is fully aware of my heart and motives. Ahh, but then on the flipside, I often run into people who say "I've been keeping up with you on Facebook and I love your posts! This one thing you said really encouraged me..." and in those moments and through time with Him, the Lord confirms that He desires to use the journeys, lessons, hardships, victories, trials, and encouragement that He walks me through to bless and encourage others. In my heart of hearts, I want to inspire and be used of the Lord to lift others. It is my sincere hope that God takes a sinner such as myself and uses my redeemed life to bless and work in other lives.
That being said, onto my devotions today...I have been studying the Gospels. They are my favorite, I have determined, because isn't it just something to study the life of Christ? I could study it my entire life and never finish learning or being changed by it. It's that powerful...and to think there is only a glimpse of His life even recorded for us! Amazing, nothing short of amazing. I was reading in Matthew Chapter 9, verses 35-38.
It says: "Jesus traveled through all the cities and villages of that area, teaching in the synagoges and announcing the good News about the Kingdom. And wherever He went, He healed people of every sort of disease and illness. He felt great pity for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they didn't knew where to go for help. They were like sheep without a shepherd. He said to His disciples, "The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. So pray to the Lord Who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send out more workers for His fields."
Wow. This rocked my heart when I read it, and apparently it has in the past too because I had parts of it underlined. This may come out like a mini sermon but here is what sticks out to me and my thoughts on this passage. First of all, it says Jesus traveled through ALL the cities and villages of that area. He didn't pick the popular, the wealthy, the safe, or the easy areas-He went to all of them. He taught truth announcing that an answer had come-that Christ had come and was preparing eternity for them-that their life was not in vain nor was it hopeless. Then it says He healed them of EVERY sort of disease and illness. I think it is interesting that it mentions both disease and illness. I think the point was that it was all inclusive-there was nothing left behind or nothing that was too far above His ability-He healed them from EVERY sort. Then you have this glimpse into what Jesus was feeling, which I think is incredible. I cried when I read these words because my heart broke for lost people: "He felt great pity for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they didn't know where to go for help." Seen that anywhere lately? It's EVERYWHERE. People are in such great amounts of pain...carrying burdens larger than life...and they don't know where to go for help. Oh, they try...but at the end of the day they don't know where to go. Can you imagine Jesus standing there, knowing the hearts of each one their and the struggles and the burden He must have had to share...
I think another reason that part hit me so hard is that is how I feel so many times...a great pity, or compassion, if you will, for hurting people who don't know where to go for help. And at times I have wondered if I was being weird when my heart responds in that way, but holding it against truth, I see that it is something from God, and definitely something I treasure! But He didn't just stop at pity. He makes sure we really know how lost they are-like a "sheep without a shepherd." A sheep without a shepherd is not only lost, but in grave danger. I shepherd guided, but most of all protected the sheep from predators who desired to kill and destroy. Jesus is highlighting that there are hurting, lost, and very at risk souls in abundance. Does that do something in you? Does it make you want to go shout from the rooftops that there is hope, no matter what someone is facing? It does me, and I can't think that I'm alone in that! Next He calls His disciples-His followers and tells them the need and asks them to pray to the Lord-Who is in charge of the harvest- to send more workers to His fields. Wow. I love this part too-The authority noted-the Lord is in charge of the harvest, the fields, and the workers. There is a great need, but not many there to meet it.
Does this do something in you? Do we get it? We are running out of time. Life is more than shopping, clothes, looking good, getting married, hanging with friends, buying a great house and all the other things that can become selfish endeavors and fulfillment. Those things mean nothing in comparison to being a worker in His fields. There was a shortage then, and there is a shortage now. Maybe you think I'm crazy or are annoyed by something I have said, but honestly I don't really care-every day I realize more and more what really matters, and a passion grows inside me to share Him with the World-quite literally. I'm not saying I'm perfect by any means and I definitely have moments of forgetting my true purpose and getting caught up in the pleasures of life, but my heart is crying for people to step up and do something...
I don't have a great ending, but I hope this passage makes you think and that the Lord challenges you through His Word. Please seek Him out as to what He would have you do and in what capacity He would use you in His fields-because the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are FEW.
That being said, onto my devotions today...I have been studying the Gospels. They are my favorite, I have determined, because isn't it just something to study the life of Christ? I could study it my entire life and never finish learning or being changed by it. It's that powerful...and to think there is only a glimpse of His life even recorded for us! Amazing, nothing short of amazing. I was reading in Matthew Chapter 9, verses 35-38.
It says: "Jesus traveled through all the cities and villages of that area, teaching in the synagoges and announcing the good News about the Kingdom. And wherever He went, He healed people of every sort of disease and illness. He felt great pity for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they didn't knew where to go for help. They were like sheep without a shepherd. He said to His disciples, "The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. So pray to the Lord Who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send out more workers for His fields."
Wow. This rocked my heart when I read it, and apparently it has in the past too because I had parts of it underlined. This may come out like a mini sermon but here is what sticks out to me and my thoughts on this passage. First of all, it says Jesus traveled through ALL the cities and villages of that area. He didn't pick the popular, the wealthy, the safe, or the easy areas-He went to all of them. He taught truth announcing that an answer had come-that Christ had come and was preparing eternity for them-that their life was not in vain nor was it hopeless. Then it says He healed them of EVERY sort of disease and illness. I think it is interesting that it mentions both disease and illness. I think the point was that it was all inclusive-there was nothing left behind or nothing that was too far above His ability-He healed them from EVERY sort. Then you have this glimpse into what Jesus was feeling, which I think is incredible. I cried when I read these words because my heart broke for lost people: "He felt great pity for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they didn't know where to go for help." Seen that anywhere lately? It's EVERYWHERE. People are in such great amounts of pain...carrying burdens larger than life...and they don't know where to go for help. Oh, they try...but at the end of the day they don't know where to go. Can you imagine Jesus standing there, knowing the hearts of each one their and the struggles and the burden He must have had to share...
I think another reason that part hit me so hard is that is how I feel so many times...a great pity, or compassion, if you will, for hurting people who don't know where to go for help. And at times I have wondered if I was being weird when my heart responds in that way, but holding it against truth, I see that it is something from God, and definitely something I treasure! But He didn't just stop at pity. He makes sure we really know how lost they are-like a "sheep without a shepherd." A sheep without a shepherd is not only lost, but in grave danger. I shepherd guided, but most of all protected the sheep from predators who desired to kill and destroy. Jesus is highlighting that there are hurting, lost, and very at risk souls in abundance. Does that do something in you? Does it make you want to go shout from the rooftops that there is hope, no matter what someone is facing? It does me, and I can't think that I'm alone in that! Next He calls His disciples-His followers and tells them the need and asks them to pray to the Lord-Who is in charge of the harvest- to send more workers to His fields. Wow. I love this part too-The authority noted-the Lord is in charge of the harvest, the fields, and the workers. There is a great need, but not many there to meet it.
Does this do something in you? Do we get it? We are running out of time. Life is more than shopping, clothes, looking good, getting married, hanging with friends, buying a great house and all the other things that can become selfish endeavors and fulfillment. Those things mean nothing in comparison to being a worker in His fields. There was a shortage then, and there is a shortage now. Maybe you think I'm crazy or are annoyed by something I have said, but honestly I don't really care-every day I realize more and more what really matters, and a passion grows inside me to share Him with the World-quite literally. I'm not saying I'm perfect by any means and I definitely have moments of forgetting my true purpose and getting caught up in the pleasures of life, but my heart is crying for people to step up and do something...
I don't have a great ending, but I hope this passage makes you think and that the Lord challenges you through His Word. Please seek Him out as to what He would have you do and in what capacity He would use you in His fields-because the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are FEW.
Good word Heidi. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteThanks Marti! God's good and it's an honor to share things He brings up in my heart. :)
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