Irvin Wasswa- Tylertown Campus Pastor LHBC  

Matthew 9:35-38
And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.  When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

In the year 2003, the great Christian band Casting Crowns produced a song entitled “What If.” The song speaks to the reality of prayer and asking the honest question about what would happen if the people of God actually sought the Lord in prayer. What if the people of God cultivated prayerful hearts and prayed for God to move and work in their lives and in the lives of others? Here are some of the lyrics of the song:

What if the church, for heaven’s sake
Finally stepped up to the plate
Took a stand upon God’s promise
And stormed hell’s rusty gates
What if His people prayed
And those who bear His name
Would humbly seek His face
And turn from their own way
He said that they would hear
His promise has been made
He’ll answer loud and clear
If only we would pray
If My people called by My name
If they’ll humble themselves and pray
If My people called by My name
If they’ll humble themselves and pray

Such a powerful song with a relatable truth. What if? In Matthew 9 King Jesus is in the middle of His ministry here on earth. He is preaching the gospel and healing those who were afflicted. In the midst of all that though, as He surveys the crowds of people, His heart was burdened and He was filled with compassion for they were broken people in need of hope. Then Jesus shares something very interesting: He encourages the disciples who were with Him to understand this reality: There were many at that time that were ready to hear the Gospel, but there weren’t many workers out there to share the news with them. Therefore they needed to pray for God to send workers into the harvest field to share the Good News of Jesus.

Hey friend, did you know that the reality of the harvest field is just as real and true today as it was back in Jesus’ day? Listen, there are people all around you and I that are waiting to hear about the Good News of Jesus Christ. Now they may mask their need for Him by how they act and live, but in reality their life screams that they are empty. Listen, WE HAVE THE HOPE that they are looking for in the Gospel of Jesus. What if we humbled ourselves and prayed for God to mobilize us to be the workers in His harvest field to go and love our neighbors by inviting them to church and to Christ? What if we prayed for the Lord to mobilize our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to step out and share? What if we understood this reality that perhaps you and I are the answers to this prayer in Matthew 9 and we went and shared? People would get saved. Lives would be changed. Disciples would be made. What if? Will you choose to join me in praying for laborers to jump into the harvest field and share the Gospel? I encourage you to choose not only to pray for laborers, but to choose to be the answer to this prayer and to be a laborer yourself in the harvest field–loving your lost neighbors, friends and family enough to share the Gospel of Jesus with them. 

PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for loving me. Thank you for sending a laborer into the harvest field to share the hope of Jesus with me. Give me the heart to pray for you to continue to send laborers to share, and the boldness to step out and be a laborer myself. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.