Go Beyond

   While on a short-term mission trip to southeastern Ukraine in 1996, I accompanied some of our team members to a village. When we arrived, a crowd gathered and asked why we had come. We explained that we had come to share good news. We then shared the gospel with those gathered around us and dozens placed their faith in Christ for salvation. On the following day, many more people gathered to listen to our message. The people were receptive, but we did not have enough workers to share the gospel with all of the people eager to hear our message.

   Our experience in the village in Ukraine reminded us of the crowds that followed Jesus as He ministered in the towns and villages of Galilee (Matthew 9:35). When Jesus saw the crowds, “He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). Jesus told His followers that the crowds represented a great harvest. However, there were not enough workers to address the urgent needs of the people (Matthew 9:37). That is why Jesus told His disciples to plead with “the Lord of the harvest” and ask that He “send,” or thrust out, “workers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:38).

   We must plead with God to provide the workers. Unless more workers are sent into the harvest, much of the crop will be lost. The harvest is ready. The world is waiting. Ask God to send out workers — including yourself — into His harvest field before the crop is lost. And, pray for those already laboring in harvest fields at home and around the world.