April 2

Become the Answer to Your Prayers

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 47:1-4 | Deuteronomy 21:1-22:30 | Luke 9:50-10:12 | Proverbs 12:11

Today’s Scripture Focus:  Luke 9:50 – 10:12

He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field (Luke 10:2 NIV).

Jesus calls us to follow him and to join him in his mission to go and proclaim the kingdom of God.  What is your response?

Some try to make excuses. “Let me go and bury my father” (9:59). I have to admit that when it comes to excuses that seems like a pretty good one. My excuses tend to seem lame in comparison. Yet the urgency of the kingdom message requires sacrifice: “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 

A better response is to pray. “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send forth laborers” (10:2). When we look at the immensity of the task and the hardness of so many to the message, we might be tempted to become discouraged and give up. Therefore we must pray.

The prayer response is a good start, but it is not enough. It is an important and essential beginning point to our mission. But notice that after Jesus calls them to pray, he calls them to go. He calls us to be the answer to our prayers.

Jesus gave us a big job—to share his message of the kingdom with a world of people who need to experience his love. Don’t make excuses. Don’t become overwhelmed or discouraged. Pray. Then Go.

Lord of the Harvest, send forth laborers into your harvest field. Send me. Amen.