October 9
The Urgency
of the Harvest
Matthew 9:37-38
Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.”
Daily Steps
The Heart of the Missionary (Day 283) is driven by a profound sense of urgency and compassion. This passage, spoken by Jesus, reveals the tragic imbalance in the global mission: a great spiritual need exists, but the laborers are few, leading to a crucial command to pray for more workers.
The peace in this principle is found in focused intercession:
The Reality of the Need: Jesus paints a clear picture: The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. The "harvest" represents the great number of people ready to hear the Gospel and come to repentance (Day 278). The tragedy lies in the lack of trained and committed disciples (Day 274) to gather them.
The Command to Pray: Jesus immediately provides the solution through intercession: Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field. This confirms that the growth of the Call to Mission is dependent upon persistent prayer (Day 260) and recognizes God's Sovereignty (Day 219) as the true owner and initiator of the work.
The Result is Compassion: This awareness of the abundant harvest should fuel the missionary heart with compassion (Day 246) and diligence (Day 242). It shifts the focus from our own comforts and concerns (Self-Denial, Day 283) to the great spiritual need of the lost world.
Your peace is secured by focused intercession. Embrace the Heart of the Missionary today by committing to Ask the Lord of the harvest daily to raise up and send out more workers. Let the urgency of the harvest drive you into prayer and purposeful action (Day 274).
Reflective Question
How often does the great spiritual need of the world cause you to stop and genuinely ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers? What practical step can you take this week to become a more effective worker in your own small portion of the harvest field?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I confess my tendency to forget the great need of the world. I thank You that the harvest is plentiful and that Your redemption is still available. I pray for the Heart of the Missionary—a spirit of compassion and urgency. I commit today to Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out more laborers. Secure my peace in the knowledge that my intercession contributes to the growth of Your Kingdom. Amen.
