Gleanings in the Harvest

Deuteronomy 22-24; Galatians 4 

“’Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there…When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless, and the widow,…’”

Deuteronomy 24:18, 19

Remembering our former bondage and slavery to sin is essential as we live on mission in the harvest. When we engage in mission without compassion and empathy, we reduce the Gospel to a task to be completed, rather than a grace-filled story that we have experienced and now have the privilege of sharing. The ‘gleanings’ in our spiritual harvest are our generous, compassionate response to need without expecting anything in return. Often the ‘gleanings’ are hidden and require searching. Like the hidden peoples around the world, we recognize that the ‘gleanings’ don’t belong to us. We respond generously to the ‘gleanings’ of people and resources because we ourselves have been the recipients of God’s grace and generosity to us in Christ.

Where are we being invited to both remember and be generous this day?

“Lord Jesus, Lord of the harvest, I pray for your love for others today and an open hand toward people and resources.”