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Outstanding In Your Field

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 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 9:35-38

Jesus tells his disciples to, ‘Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’ The very next verse describes Jesus giving his disciples authority to heal the sick and cast out demons. It seems he might just be saying, ‘you asked the Lord of the harvest to send out workers and... ta da... you’re the answer to the request.’

I was once visiting with Denny Vierk, the Principal of the Lutheran grade school I attended as a child. I shared my frustration with the decline in Lutheran schools and my hope that it would turn around. He looked at me and said, ‘Do you know what it takes to turn things around?’ I was at a loss so he told me, ‘One person.’ He said it takes just one person willing to surrender to God’s calling and do something instead of always complaining about it. He helped me see I was already in the field wondering who was going to collect the harvest I was standing right in the middle of!

We who have been called by God and redeemed by His Son have also been placed in a field ripe unto harvest. It’s not a mistake that you are out standing in your field. God has put you there to accomplish his purposes. So if you find yourself hip deep in a field ready to harvest stop looking for someone else to show up with a combine and start gathering. You are the answer to the question, ‘Lord, who are you sending?’

Prayer
Lord, help me to see the field you have placed me in. Whether it’s family, friends, coworkers, neighbors or all of the above, ignite my passion and set me to the work of harvesting what you have planted. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.