Laborers For the Harvest
by Sandra Moats
Sandra Moats
Executive Director New Hope For Adopted
International Kids
Word Count 1116
Laborers For the Harvest
Harvest is a time of gathering,
reaping and enjoying that what has been
produced from planting and watering. Many want
to enjoy the harvest, but few want to labor to
bring it about. It is also that way in the
harvest of souls. Jesus said, "The harvest is
plentiful, but the laborers are few." Mt
9:37,38.
Smelling ripe fruit is one of the
things I love about harvest time. Each year we
plant a large garden, and enjoy the fruit of
it. This year some of our children enjoyed
harvesting our first crop of grapes. All
summer long we watered and watched them
blossom and grow, and now we have enjoyed the
fruit of our labors. It takes labor to plant,
water and reap crops, so it is with souls.
When I work in my garden I use it as a time
to teach our children many lessons, such as
the story of The Little Red Hen. The classic
story of The Little Red Hen tells about her
calling for others to help her. She found a
wheat seed and planted it. Not the pig, cat
nor dog would help her plant the seed, so she
did it. She needed help with the cutting,
threshing and grinding of the wheat, but none
of them would help. She needed help making the
bread, but none of them would do it. When the
bread was cooked she asked who would help her
eat the bread, and of course they all said
they would. But she said, "No, I will eat the
bread". I wonder what Jesus will say to
Christians who refuse or are too busy to do
their part in the harvest of souls.
The Bible says that Jesus is "the Lord of
the harvest". Matt 9:38. He directs His
workers, and will reward them. Every Christian
is expected to take part in planting, watering
and harvesting. "Go ye therefore, and teach
all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever
I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you
alway, even unto the end of the world."Mt
28:19,20.
Many times, my husband and myself as Pastors
have cried out to the Lord of the harvest to
send us laborers to help in the fields where
we have worked. There is a great lack of
laborers in the harvest field. Jesus gives us
the solution for the lack of laborers. He
said, " Pray ye therefore the Lord of the
harvest, that he will send forth laborers into
his harvest." Mt 9:38. Lu 10:2. That word
send used in those verses properly means
"thrust forth". It is always better to go when
you know you are supposed to go, but some have
to be literally thrust out. So if that has
happened to you and you find yourself here in
north Idaho know this, you were thrust out for
a reason. You are in a ripe harvest field that
God has sent you to work in. Now do the work
you were called to do.
Everywhere I look I see lost souls who are
in need of Jesus Christ. We are on the brink
of a great revival in this land and there is a
real need of Christian laborers to step up and
take their place.
In north Idaho, where I live
there are many Christians who have moved here
and really don''t understand why they did that.
Over and over again I hear, "I don''t know why
we are here." You are here to labor in the
harvest of souls in north Idaho. We all have a
part whither it be planting, watering or
reaping. We are told to lift up our eyes and
look at the fields so we can see that the
fields of souls are ripe. You were not sent
here to get away from people, or sit in
meetings and enjoy the presence of the Lord,
nor in your living rooms watching a good
preacher not that there is anything wrong with
that. But there is harvest work to be done
here. Many have been prepared to receive the
gospel. But many of His laborers have their
eyes glued to their phones, TVs, and
computers. There awaits a huge
harvest in this area, but the laborers are
few. Many have been praying that laborers
would be forced out into this harvest field.
Look past the cold and snow and see the
harvest of souls that are ripe to come to know
Jesus. Many in this area almost hibernate in
the winter to avoid the cold. If you are going
to do that hibernate where you can touch
others for Christ.
Not only are we commanded to work
in the world to bring souls into the Kingdom
of God, but also we are told to pray and ask
for the Lord Jesus to send out more workers to
help with the great harvest of earth. Do not
think we have a lot of time left for many
signs are now lining up to the soon coming
return of our Lord Jesus Christ to earth. John
4:35.
I have noticed some interesting
things this year during the harvest of our
garden. I didn''t pick all the blueberries on
time and the squirrels came in and ate some
before I got them picked. I didn''t get all my
raspberries wired up properly this year and
the harvest was not near what it was last
year. I felt sadden that we didn''t get the
full measure of our garden. It is important
to work in the fields and gardens while the
time is right, not when we get the time to do
it. Souls are ready when the Holy Spirit says.
He moves on His faithful followers to work and
there comes a harvest of that soul. It is
important that we are there to work in those
fields at His word so He will not be sadden by
the loss of souls for lack of our work.
The harvest of souls is now! Joh 4:35. Many
laborers are praying for the Lord of the
Harvest to send out workers. Harvest workers
must get involved with the harvest. You can''t
reap standing wheat without getting into the
wheat field. God does not use combines, but He
uses men and woman who are committed to Jesus
Christ. The harvest is great before us; we
have much work to do. Each of us needs to
reflect within ourselves, will He say to me
when I go home, "Well done good and faithful
servant?" Lu 19:17.
|