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We have all read the scripture in Mathew 9:37: "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few". As we are approaching the opening of a new facility at Church52, I was reading this scripture in context and discovered a couple of quick points I thought I would share...
Why did Jesus say this? what event occurred that caused Him to utter these words? The answer is compassion...
V 36 of the same chapter says Jesus saw the masses of people, He had compassion because he could see they were "harassed and helpless", like sheep without a shepherd.
How do we see people? Do we see them as crimping our style? Do we see them as taking our favorite seat in the sanctuary? Do we see them as intruders - messing up our cliques at church? Or do we see them as Jesus did - full of compassion, knowing that many feel helpless in their situation, that so many are harassed by the enemy, by the things and cares of this world...
By looking at people through the eyes of Jesus, we are moved to action. Jesus could have said there are just too many people - it's too bad we can't accommodate them all...
But no - Jesus' response to the problem of not enough workers was this....
V 38 says this... and this is MY prayer for Church 52 "Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send OUT workers into His harvest field."
May we not act out of concern for the size of our church, may we not invite because we want people to see the "latest and greatest" facility we have. But may we work from a heart of compassion knowing there is healing for the harassed and help for the helpless...
Who do you have compassion for? Who do you know that is hurting and in need? Go after them... minister to them, invite them to church this weekend and see what God will do!
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perry meade
