Day 61 | Matthew 9:35-38 | Harvest is great. Harvesters are few.

Scripture: Matthew 9:35-38 [NLT]
³⁵ Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. ³⁶ But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. ³⁷ Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. ³⁸ Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:35-38, New King James Version)

The harvest is plentiful, where are the workers?

Observation: (What does your mind’s eye see when you read this scripture?)

I see Jesus traveling from village to village bringing his message of hope to anyone who would listen. Healing anyone that he could and joining them where they were. (What joy those towns and villages must have experienced)Note that He came to them. He was not expecting them to come to him. He did not set up a big church and say, “Now come to Me all you sinners. Come over here where I’ve made camp!” Nope, He went to them and healed them where they were. This seems very symbolic of how he stands at the door of our hearts and asks to come in. He does not ask us to first meet Him in church and then He will help us.

I find it interesting that this brief definition of how Jesus went to the people is followed by his statement that “the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few”…the order of these two verses does not seem happenstance.

The farmer does not wait for the grain to walk into his silo. The wine maker does not expect the grapes to get themselves into the wine press. As followers (disciples) of Christ we are called to go out and share with others where they are. Do not settle for inviting them to your church and expect the miracle to happen there…Jesus knew that we need to be “harvested” gently. Go into their homes. Go where the harvest is, and be a good worker.

What is a good worker? Well, if you were harvesting grapes, for instance, would you pull them roughly off the vine and toss them like an apple in a box. No, because you are not harvesting apples, you are harvesting grapes. The point is that a good worker learns about his harvest and knows about it and finds out the best way to handle it before attempting the harvest.

Application: (How do I apply this to my life?)

I need to be more careful in how I try to share Jesus. I need to spend time getting to know the “harvest” and I need to make sure that I am listening to the greatest harvester of all.

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

Help me to be a good worker. Help me to handle the harvest in the way that You would have me. All too often I think I know the right way to do things and all too often I choose the easy way or the least scary way; but Your way is best. I know now that I need to know the harvest. Thank you for being the Good Shepherd. Help me to learn to hear Your voice and respond.

Be with the Wilson’s today. I do not know the details of what happened but I know that they need You. Please be with the family of the gentlemen who was in the car accident. Give them comfort and bring to them someone who can show empathy for their lose and sorrow.

Continue to bless our small group bible studies. Help us to get to know each other better so that we can treat each other like a precious harvest.

I love you Jesus. Amen.

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Don’t forget to share what you have seen in this scripture in the comments section below.

Day 60 | Matthew 9:32-34 | Confusion leads away from Jesus

Scripture: Matthew 9:32-34 [NLT]

³² As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed. ³³ And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, “It was never seen like this in Israel!”
³⁴ But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons.” (Matthew 9:32-34, New King James Version)

Jesus heals demon possessed man

Observation: (What does your mind’s eye see when you read this scripture?)

I see the notoriety of Jesus growing. People are starting to hear about the amazing things he has done; his raising of the dead girl and the healing of the blind men, so they bring him a demon possessed man who is mute. No fanfare, no sprinkling of holy water or incantations…He simply tells the demon to leave the man. Remember who is the one doing the casting out; the one who created the demon in the first place. (I don’t mean that Jesus created a “demon” I mean that he created the perfect angel that has now become an evil demon. He has the power over all living things and created things because He is the Creator.

I see this man suddenly being able to talk. What a glorious moment for him and his friends to finally be rid of this terrible curse. Demon possession must be a little like being drunk. You don’t have full control of your body or mind. I imagine the healing or casting out as being a little like being made sober and clear headed instantly. (My own musings)

The religious leaders (pastors and great scholars) are watching and they see a chance to discredit Jesus. So, without directly and openly accusing Him, they start whispering to those in the crowd their suspicious musings that Jesus may be using the power of the Devil to do these miracles. They are introducing confusion to something that is good and pure and real.

Application: (How can I apply this to my life?)

As the strength of the Word grows in your life. As the power of the Spirit starts to make changes the enemy will seek to bring chaos and confusion in to draw you away from it. He will introduce new ways of thinking or wonderful paths of knowledge, but you will soon discover that they have led you away from Christ instead of to Him. He was there, always easily accessible in the Words of the gospels, but you somehow found something “better”…more exciting and were led astray.

I have purposed in my heart to learn more about Jesus in all that I study. This is the one pursuit that Satan cannot stand…and I love the idea rebelling against him. However, I have to understand that I will be met with resistance…and the one true source of help against that resistance is the One that I seek. I wonderful thing is this!

Prayer: (Let Him know what you are thinking)

Dear Jesus,

I want so much to know You better. I know that the enemy is going to do everything he can to lead me away from You. But, I also know that you are the one who can protect me from his misleadings and help to keep me focused on You. Today, and every day, I ask that you will help me to find You. Please come into my life and fill me with Your Spirit.

Please be with the small bible study groups that I am in. Help us to stay focused on you and to not be led astray. We need the Good Shepherd. I ask for Your staff to keep us on the safe path.

Thank you Lord for all that you provide in my life. I ask that Your will be done in my work life. May everything that I do bring You glory. Amen.

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