Called to be a Gathering Community (Read John 4: 34-42)
"Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." (John 4:35)
"He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." (Lk 10:2)
I didn’t grow up on a farm. In fact I was probably one of those children who up until late in my childhood did not know that the chicken on my plate came from chickens on the farm. But if you’re a farmer, or have ever lived on one, you know that when harvest time comes, all the routines of the day are put on hold. When the harvest needs to be brought in there’s no time for non-essentials. It’s long days, singleness of purpose, and of course, rejoicing that the harvest has come!
Jesus calls us to look at the fields! They are ripe for the harvest. With singleness of purpose we sense that our priorities must be submitted to the priority of the harvest. Jesus calls us to gather in! Gather in the people whose hearts God has touched and whose lives he wishes to transform for His Kingdom Glory.
Pastor John Mott has written that, "The missionary church is a praying church. Everything vital to the success of the world's evangelization hinges on prayer. Thousands of missionaries and thousands of workers are needed. Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He send forth laborers into His harvest."
PRAY
"Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." (John 4:35)
"He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." (Lk 10:2)
I didn’t grow up on a farm. In fact I was probably one of those children who up until late in my childhood did not know that the chicken on my plate came from chickens on the farm. But if you’re a farmer, or have ever lived on one, you know that when harvest time comes, all the routines of the day are put on hold. When the harvest needs to be brought in there’s no time for non-essentials. It’s long days, singleness of purpose, and of course, rejoicing that the harvest has come!
Jesus calls us to look at the fields! They are ripe for the harvest. With singleness of purpose we sense that our priorities must be submitted to the priority of the harvest. Jesus calls us to gather in! Gather in the people whose hearts God has touched and whose lives he wishes to transform for His Kingdom Glory.
Pastor John Mott has written that, "The missionary church is a praying church. Everything vital to the success of the world's evangelization hinges on prayer. Thousands of missionaries and thousands of workers are needed. Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He send forth laborers into His harvest."
PRAY
- Pray that the Lord of the harvest will raise up workers to work in His fields that are ripe.
- Pray that increasingly our priorities will submit to the priority of harvest time.
- Pray that with joy we will see more come to Christ, more lives transformed, more hearts turned from darkness to Light!
Posted in Affiliation