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By John | September 10, 2009
From the Word: ”Beseech the Lord” (from Matthew 9:35-38)
”Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.’” (Matthew 9:37-38 NASB)
Lord, why did I come back to this section? I read it yesterday, and it wasn’t in my plan to read today, but here I am again, going back over this section, which so took me in a new direction 33 years ago*. And where do I find myself today? Do I count myself among those who are listening to You, to whom You are speaking - Your disciples? Or should I identify with those who are ‘distressed and dispirited’ (v36)?. You identified the need, and the need is for prayer - to beseech the Lord of the harvest. May I do just that - pray - and commit myself to You regarding the problems that so many in our country are facing that lead to being distressed. I don’t think that things will be changing for the better any time soon. This just goes to show how people, left to themselves, will choose the wrong path - the selfish path. It is seflishness that has resulted in just about all the problems we are in , and as a nation we have chosen a selfish way out. Not a good way to approach things, Lord.
O to grow in my understanding of Your design, and Your plans for me, for us, that You might use us for Your good. O Lord, as I think about who I am and what I might do , what I might be good for, I ask You for new ideas for me on that. O Lord, may You give me the ideas and understanding I need so as to put my hope in You and be a tool in Your hand, a vessel fit for Your use. Amen.
* - [God used this passage in my life to help me decide that I wanted to be a 'worker' for the Kingdom, whatever that meant for me. Shortly thereafter the opportunity presented itself for me to get in depth ministry training with The Navigators, so I resigned my commission in the U. S. Navy and ended up joining The Navigators full time.]
Please pray with us:
I had a providential meeting today with a missions pastor from a large local church. As we discussed his role in serving the missionaries his church supports, he finds himself being viewed one way by the missionaries who see him as the money guy and to whom they need to paint a rosy picture of their work on the field. Yet he sees his role differently - he knows that some accountability can be helpful for them, but even moreso his desire is to be an encouragement and advocate for them. Both are needed. I’m sure you personally know missionaries that are serving in some tough areas of the world. Please join us in prayer for missionaries who do need the encouragement from back home and for them to keep their efforts focused on their calling and ministry opportunities. Thanks.
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Topics: In the Word and Prayer |