Reflections on the harvest

The harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few. Pray ye the Lord of the harvest that he will send labourers out into his harvest field. Matthew 9:37-38

Jesus had just finished doing good to the needy. Preaching from town to town throughout Galilee and Samaria, his pattern was the same. He would teach the work, preach the good news of freedom, and he would minister healing to those who were in need. Often he would heal every disease and sickness at one time. Needless to say he was in much demand.

As the crowds flocked to him, he was over-whelmed. It was as if he were in a field of wheat that was burning up in the hot Palestinian sun. The farmer, though feeling adequately prepared with his standard cadre of hired hands, was ill prepared due to the extreme harvest that the year`s season brought. Thus acres of wheat would be ravaged by weather forces and possible marauders due to the lack of labourers to cut, bind, sheaf and thresh the harvest as was the norm.

Though Jesus was the pinnacle of mercy and justice, he himself felt inadequate due to the sheer volume of need. People around him were broken. The needs ranged anywhere from emotional to physical. Many he healed, others he forgave, and some he befriended. Whatever he could do to envisage the love of God to the lost world, he did. He the master gardener was fully immersed in the work of the harvest. But the need was much too vast. Even for him.

Thus out of sheer compassion for the lost, Jesus pours out his heart to his disciples. `Pray that the Lord would send more workers into the harvest field`.

Have you ever thought as your neighbourhood as the harvest field? Or your school, or college dorm? What are the needs there? Could Jesus of the gospels be bring healing to the broken people who surround you everyday? A most definite affirmative is the response that Jesus gives. `As the father sends me, send I you he says.` `Greater works than these shall you do`. Jesus thus indicating that he needs us to partner with him in the work of harvesting.

This week I have been bombarded with sheer need. Some need advise others need salvation, while many need a helping hand. I have been asking God if it`s my place to fulfill all these needs, and I hear one thing in my spirit. Leaders. Raise up leaders. Send leaders. Who are these leaders. These are servants, labourers, workers who have pledged to join in the harvest with our Lord of the harvest.

Yes I know your needs are many. Maybe you can`t be one of these workers, but you can pray. Pray for God to send help to the individuals in your world that you encounter every day. Pray that your eyes may open to even pray for these individuals. Pray that one day, maybe even soon, that God can raise you up to be a servant – a leader for his kingdom. Finally, whatever you do, pray that God will help you share his burden, and that you can play a part in the greatest harvest known to humanity – the harvest of people.