Scripture
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 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.”
Matthew 9:36-38 NIV
Observation
Just in this chapter alone, Jesus heals 6 people: a paralyzed man, a dead girl, a sick woman, two blind men, and a mute man.
Matthew says that Jesus was walking from town to town, from village to village:
- teaching
- proclaiming the good news
- healing
He looked at the crowds and he had compassion on them.
Application
We cannot be anesthetized to the point of not perceiving the spiritual needs of others. Jesus looked at the crowds, and he had compassion on them. He saw so many people spiritually dry, hopeless, with no one to care for them. They were seeking solutions to their lives that could be found in Him. Yet, the crowds did not understand, for most were looking for a way to change the undesirable situation they found their lives in.
Still…
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
Jesus knew that their hearts were ready to listen to the good news, but there were only a few that would spread start spread the gospel. So, Jesus tells us to ask God to send out more workers.
I feel the same about Japan.
There are hopeless people, a huge crowd that does not understand anything of what life is about. Jesus looks at this crowd and he has compassion. And we need to feel the same way.
What can we do to change the reality?
- we need to be the workers into this harvest field.
- we need to pray for God to send out more workers into this field.
Prayer
God, we pray that you raise a new generation of passionated people that will follow you, that will have compassion for the lost souls and that will work together in this plentiful harvest. Help us to have the same heart Jesus has for the lost souls. In Jesus’ name, I pray.
