Pray For Laborers, Be A Laborer ~ Matthew 9:38

Good morning and welcome back to the Panhandle. Thanksgiving is over and we are on the fast track to Christmas. It’s hard to believe that 2021 is almost gone. But then again some of you are probably ready for it to be over and gone. And there’s this with 2021 gone we’ll be one year closer to Christ Jesus’ return, that is if He doesn’t come back before the end of the year. That brings me to our study for today, so come on in, sit awhile and let’s look at our Scripture for today.

"Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest that he send out workers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:38)

Not only did Christ Jesus heal; He also taught and preached. He could have done the work alone—but He wanted others to help Him, to learn from Him, so that they could carry on His ministry after He was gone. He asked His disciples to pray that God would provide the needed workers. After all sowing and reaping go together and laborers are needed for both. It would not be long before the disciples themselves would be involved in the ministry of preaching, teaching, and healing. The ministry of sowing and reaping.

Christ Jesus had been going through the towns and villages of Israel, teaching and preaching about the kingdom. His healing ministry was for the purpose of authenticating His Person. The spectacular nature of Christ Jesus’ ministry attracted large crowds. Christ Jesus saw that the people were troubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. The Religious leaders were suppose to be the shepherds to guide and protect them, but instead they were more harmful than helpful. The people of Israel were helpless and wandering about with no spiritual guidance. The religious leaders were keeping their sheep from following the true Shepherd for their own selfish reasons. In response to the people’s “helpless” condition, Christ Jesus encouraged His disciples to pray for the Lord of the harvest, namely, God the Father, to send out additional workers. The harvest was ready; because kingdom was at hand. Today, just as in those days additional laborers are still necessary to complete the harvest.¹

The work is vast and the moment is more urgent than ever. Like wheat or corn, the harvest must be gathered while the crop is ripe and the weather good.² And even though the work might be very hard there are good wages in the harvest-home; and even though the day might be hot, it is a short one. We as followers of Christ Jesus should be praying earnestly for Him to send us out as workers after His own heart. After all who will tell our families, friends, and neighbors about Christ Jesus? Who will spread the knowledge of His truth and His grace which is offered to the whole world if not us?³

Just as the early disciples, we are to pray for workers and to be workers in the field. When we pray as Christ Jesus commanded, God will multiply our lives as we share in the great harvest that is already ripe⁴ ~ Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work. Do you not say, "There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this case the saying is true, "One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor.” (John 4:34–38). I guess the question you should ask yourself is this, will you become a laborer in your field?

Thanks for dropping by this morning and as you go about you day and week I pray God’s blessing on you and your family.

Biblesurfer

1 Barbieri, L. A., Jr. (1985). Matthew. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 41). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

2 Knowles, A. (2001). The Bible guide (1st Augsburg books ed., p. 419). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg.

3 Clarke, A. (2014). The Holy Bible with a Commentary and Critical Notes (New Edition, Vol. 5, p. 115). Bellingham, WA: Faithlife Corporation.

4 Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 36). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.