Harvest Time

With harvest underway or imminent, fields of ripe grain, tall cornstalks, and soybeans turning brown recall Jesus’ words to the 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” (Matthew 9:37-38, ESV).

Nowadays farmers are able to use fewer laborers and bigger machines than in decades past. But what about harvests of faith? Leading people to know God’s love can’t be done “mechanically.” Studies show that newspaper ads or door-hangers left anonymously are less effective at bringing people to church than a warm personal invite.

Right after urging his disciples to pray for harvest workers — in a classic instance of “You might be God’s answer to your own prayer!” — Jesus sends them out as those very laborers! How will they work the harvest? Not by guilting people into faith. Not by pronouncing judgment or biblical law. But by using Jesus’ authority to counter evil, illness, and brokenness among those they befriend.

Ponder and pray about where Jesus is sending you as his laborer to cultivate and reap Christian faith and assurance of God’s love.