Then [Jesus} said to the 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.” (Matthew 9:38)
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Jesus speaks these words as he is looking out at large crowds of people. Matthew tells us that He had compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. He encourages His disciples to pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into that harvest. Then, do you know what Jesus does next? He calls them, gives them authority, and sends them out to labor in the harvest field. He tells them to pray earnestly for something, and then He makes them part of the answer to that prayer! This makes me think of a line towards the end of the one of my favorite books, The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien. Bilbo has just remarked with surprise that the prophecies in the old songs have turned out to be true, and in response the wizard Gandalf says, “Of course, and why should not they prove true? Surely you don’t disbelieve the prophecies, because you had a hand in bringing them about yourself?”
The 18th of this month will be the twentieth anniversary of my ordination into the office of the holy ministry. It is very strange for me to think of myself as part of an ongoing answer to the church’s prayer that the Lord of the harvest would send out laborers into that harvest, but by God’s grace—somehow even I am part of HIS answer to that prayer! I feel truly blessed to have labored as a pastor for 20 years. It is an honor to walk with people through all the different types of things they experience—the joys of marriage and children, the sorrow of divorce or miscarriage, sickness and death, accidents and tragedies, unexpected joys and successes. It has been my privilege to share Christ and His Word with people in the midst of many situations including the mundane routine of regular life. I don’t always do it well. Believe me, there have been failings! I haven’t always said or done the right things. There are people I have let down and failed as a pastor—lost sheep I did not pursue like I should have or guarded and defended like the good shepherd. Sometimes I feel tired and am less than enthusiastic for the work God has given me to do. For all of this I am truly sorry! I need God’s forgiveness and I seek yours as well. Yet, I am encouraged again by this: The One who is the Lord of the Harvest has told us to pray for the Lord to send out laborers, and He has called me to this task and sent me to do it. The churches’ prayers—your prayers—continue to be answered even through the likes of sinful me. I find comfort also in this—I am not the Lord of the Harvest—I am just a laborer in the harvest field. The One who sees the big picture is God. The One who knows what the church needs—what each of his individual sheep needs—is God. The One Who is the Good Shepherd and the Church’s Savior is God the Son! Yet, He still sends me and equips me with His Word and Spirit to labor on your behalf.
As a church we continue to pray for laborers in the Harvest Field. There are different types of labor to be done in that field, and today I want you to consider the amazing miracle that YOU too are part of the Lord’s answer to his churches’ prayer. Caring for one another and sharing the Word of Jesus with harassed and helpless sheep is not only the work of pastors. We do need more pastors and teachers and music ministers etc. to labor in the fields, however, so I hope that you might be one or might encourage someone to consider this special labor. I also hope that you will pray for this earnestly—sharing Jesus’ heart for harassed and helpless sheep. Just don’t be surprised when you, yourself, are part of His answer to your prayer. To God Alone Be the Glory!