Daily Devotions
Matthew
Sharing a Vision
Text: Matthew 9 : 32 - 38
The disciples had been taught much already. They had been exposed to ministry long enough now! They were now ready to be challenged to share the vision of Jesus.
“Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest
truly is plentiful, but the labourers are few.”
Matthew 9:37
“Then He said to his disciples…”
What had they learned from their Master after all this while? Were they ready to go on to the next level of faith and service?
“The harvest truly is plentiful…”
Had they caught a glimpse of the harvest field yet? Indeed the work may be compared to a great harvest.
1. There was a lot of work to be done at harvest time
a) It would be back-breaking work.
b) It would be work from sunrise to sunset.
c) There would be hardly any respite till the harvest was in!
2. The harvest field as Jesus saw it
a) First there was Israel. This one nation alone would demand much time and attention.
b) But Israel was only part of the total harvest envisioned. Cities like Gerasa that had rejected Him, must be reached at a later stage!
“The labourers are few…”
At least the kind of labourers that Jesus had in mind. The idea behind the word “labourers” is that of a person who is prepared to work till he dropped! The idea of labouring was well exemplified by Jesus Himself. Only the disciples knew just how hard their Master worked! He was up before any of His disciples awoke. He would spend time in prayer long after all had gone to sleep! If anyone wanted to be His disciple, he would have to work just as hard. He was right when he said that such labourers were few!
PRAYING FOR LABOURERS
Where would they find labourers then? Jesus challenged His disciples to apply all that they knew about prayer with reference to the search for labourers.
“Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest
to send out labourers into His harvest.”
Matthew 9:38
“Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest…”
It was important that the disciples do not feel overwhelmed by the sheer challenge of the ministry! It would be so easy to feel swamped out! The disciples may guard against this feeling through prayer.
The Lord was still in control! The Father may indeed be called “The Lord of the harvest”. He is directly involved in this great work! He will respond to prayer!
“To send out labourers into His harvest…”
It is the Lord who must call and then send labourers into His harvest! No matter how the heart may be moved by the needs of the multitudes, that in itself would not be sufficient! The Lord Himself must do the sending.
EXAMPLES OF HOW GOD CHOSE AND SENT LABOURERS
The Scriptures record how God called and sent people to labour for Him.
1. The Call of Moses
“Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh
that you may bring My people, the children of Israel,
out of Egypt.”
Exodus 3:10
2. The Call of Joshua
“Moses, My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan,
you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to
them – the children of Israel.”
Joshua 1:2
2. The Call of Isaiah
“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying,
‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?
‘Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’
And He said, ‘Go, and tell this people…'”
Isaiah 6:8-9a
3. The Call of Jeremiah
“Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’
For you shall go to all to whom I send you,
And whatever I command you,
you shall speak.'”
Jeremiah 1:7
Each one was called to a different ministry. The work of the Lord may seem intimidating. But when God calls a person to serve Him, He will always provide all the power that would be needed to succeed.
How important it was to relate everything back to God! What an example Jesus set. What a powerful lesson this was! Knowledge of God’s full involvement in ministry brings a great sense of both comfort and confidence to the heart.