The Harvest

​Scripture Reading: Matthew 9:35-38 NASB95
Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. [36] Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. [37] Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. [38] Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”

Jesus' description of the harvest has been used to whip up fervor for foreign missionary work.  No doubt, that is apropos to the subject of missions; however, one does not have to travel to a foreign land to bring in the harvest.  For most of us, the harvest is waiting one step out the front door of our house or apartment.  What has become apparent in recent years is the fact that we are living in a Post-Christian America, and many people have never heard the Gospel message.

If in your next trip to town, you happen to "look" around at the people, you will find people who match Jesus' description.  "Distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd."  This is often the driving force behind drug use and suicide.  People feel lost, isolated and unloved.  All they really need to turn their lives around is a relationship with Jesus.

This is where "we" come into the picture.  As followers of Christ, we are called to be His ambassadors.  We represent Jesus to the harvest of people who need to know Jesus.  What we must do is to prepare strategies to connect these people to Jesus by proclaiming the Gospel.  We must "go out" with this message to reach people who are not inclined to walk into a church building.  In this Post-Christian America, it has never dawned on many of these lost people to walk into a church on a Sunday morning.  So, we take the Gospel to them.

Questions to Consider:

1. What are some of the cultural barriers "we" will face when taking the Gospel out into the harvest?
2. Is it true that we are living in a Post-Christian America?  (About 16% of Austinites regularly attend church on a Sunday morning)
3. How would you describe your role as a ambassador for Christ?

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