From: January 13, 2024
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36 ESV).
When Jesus looks at us, what does He see? He sees a world of people who are “harassed and helpless.” What is His response? He has “compassion” for us because we are “like sheep without a shepherd.”
Do you see what Jesus sees? Have you ever asked the Lord to let you see through His eyes? When we see others as Christ does, we see their confusion, we see their helplessness. We see their lostness. Seeing through the Lord’s eyes, His Spirit fills us with compassion for them. But we have to really look. Not just with a passing glance. We have to look closely with spiritual eyes.
When they see that we really see them and care for them, then they are open to hear about the Shepherd of our souls. For their deepest need is for someone to introduce them to Jesus.
PRAYER: O Lord, we are often afraid to really look at others because we don’t want to see the depth of their need. We’re afraid they’ll ask us for something. We don’t want to get out of our comfort zone. Yet, You want us to see others as You do. And to see them with love and compassion. Help us Lord. We want to see others through Your eyes today. In Jesus name, Amen.
From: January 13, 2023
“The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields” (Matthew 9:37-38 NLT).
Jesus told His disciples that multitudes of people were ready to be led into the Kingdom, but there weren’t enough workers to lead them. He instructed the disciples to pray to the Lord that more workers would answer the call.
I have prayed this prayer continuously for years. Since planting our church 31 years ago, we have always seen the need outweigh the help. God has trusted us with multitudes of people who need to hear the gospel and be discipled. Yet, the task is often overwhelming. Many cry for help, but few answer the call to be helpers.
We still pray this prayer today, that God would send workers to help with the harvest in this generation. We’re asking the Lord to send people like the prophet Isaiah, who willing said, “Here am I, Lord. Send me” (Isa. 6:8).
PRAYER: Father, we pray to You as the Lord of the harvest, send out laborers who will bring in the harvest of souls to Your Kingdom. Lord we not only pray for more laborers, we also say, send us. We want to be busy sowing gospel seeds and making disciples. Strengthen our hands for this good work. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: January 13, 2020
Will you answer the prayer to be a gospel laborer?
Jesus told His disciples that multitudes of people were ready to be led into the Kingdom, but there weren’t enough workers to lead them. He instructed them to pray to the Lord that more workers would answer the call. I have prayed this prayer continuously for years. Since planting our church 28 years ago, we have always seen the need outweigh the help. God has trusted us with multitudes of people who need to hear the gospel and be discipled. Yet, the task is often overwhelming. Many cry for help, but few answer the call to be helpers. We still pray this prayer today, that God would send workers to help with the harvest in this generation. We always begin this prayer with, “Lord, send me.”
PRAYER: Father, we pray to You as the Lord of the harvest, send out laborers who will bring in the harvest of souls to Your Kingdom. Lord we not only pray for more laborers, we also say, send us. We want to be busy sowing gospel seeds and making disciples. Strengthen our hands for this good work. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: January 13, 2017
When Jesus healed two blind men, he instructed them not to tell anyone. Why He forbade them is not explained, for certainly He later commands His followers to go into all the world preaching the gospel (Mark 16:15). Perhaps He did not want the fame of His miracles to obscure His message. Or perhaps He didn’t want the news to limit His ability to move about freely until the appointed day of His crucifixion. Regardless, the men went throughout the country sharing the news of how Jesus had restored their sight, in spite of His warning. Isn’t it ironic that these men couldn’t be stopped from sharing what Christ had done for them, while many believers today cannot be urged to obey Christ’s clear command to witness.
From: January 13, 2016
Jacob, sleeping on a rock for a pillow, dreamt of a ladder that connected heaven and earth. He heard God promise that his offspring would fill the earth and that through them all peoples would be blessed. He awoke and named the place “Bethel,” which is Hebrew for “House of God” (“beth” house + “el” god). I’m sure he meditated on this vision for the rest of his life. I wonder, did he foresee that God’s Son would be born into the line of his son, Judah? Did he understand that God would send Jesus as the Ladder of Love to open the way to heaven for those who would believe?
From: January 13, 2015
Jesus told His disciples that multitudes of people were ready to be led into the Kingdom, but there weren’t enough workers to lead them. He instructed them to pray to the Lord that more workers would answer the call. I have prayed this prayer continuously for years. Since planting our church 23 years ago, we have always seen the need outweigh the help. God has trusted us with multitudes of people who need to hear the gospel and be discipled. Yet, the task is often overwhelming. Many cry for help, but few answer the call to be helpers. We still pray this prayer today, that God would send workers to help with the harvest in this generation. We always begin this prayer with, “Lord, send me.”