Day #2352

June 9, 2020

Tuesday’s Thoughts on Scripture for today comes from Matthew 9:37-38: Then [Jesus] said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (NRSV)

Jesus has been traveling around teaching and curing, and I would imagine he is overwhelmed with human needs. After all, we may be overwhelmed with human needs today - disease, poverty, racism, anger, mourning, etc. Everywhere we go, there are people who need the promise of God’s grace, welcome, and healing. Everywhere there are folks who are feeling hopeless and wondering where to turn. In other words, the harvest is STILL plentiful, so don’t we also need to ask the Lord for laborers? Note: part of the call of a pastor is to invite and encourage folks to consider their gifts for full-time ministry. 

Anyway, the part that I find fascinating about these verses: Jesus uses his very disciples to answer the prayer for laborers and soon they become apostles (ones sent). 

Perhaps we are waiting for someone else to do God’s work. Perhaps we think it is someone else’s job (like the pastor) to be the one to share God’s message and invite people into an active relationship with God. Perhaps we think someone else has better or more appropriate gifts for ministry. 

Well, I believe Jesus calls each and every one of us to be laborers in his harvest, because we are each given gifts from God that are needed in God’s kingdom. Every one of us!

Blessings. And prayers.