He had compassion- Harvest is plentiful- Pray for laborers
35 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. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
Calvin abridged: the priests were lazy in their care of the people, but Christ was moved with compassion. Even now Christ has not stopped caring for his church, but looks after his wandering sheep, and gathers those chased by the wolves. 37- The harvest is plentiful- Many people are ripe for receiving the gospel. No one is a faithful minister or teacher by themselves, but the Lord raises them up and endows them with gifts of the Spirit. Whenever there is a scarcity of pastors, we need to raise our eyes to him to bring a remedy.
Thoughts: Jesus saw the problem that we all need to see. We all need to have his eyes to see people as harassed and helpless- bandied about by the weariness, problems, and hassle of life. Our eyes should be focused on those around us- seeing them not for their looks or their money, but their need for the Good Shepherd- for the Lord. Christ’s solution was to pray- ask for God’s help. Not for, as you might suspect, more followers, but for God to raise up laborers. Laborers are the key, and the key to get laborers is not to labor but to pray. Leadership is not a matter of reading a manual only, but it is also a blessing of God. The church needs good leaders today. We are missing a godly Billy Graham or Dwight L. Moody. There is no real leader in the American church today and it shows. People need God- we need to pray for leaders and workers.
Prayer: Today, Lord, raise up leaders who have integrity, compassion, and a great love for you.
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