Compassion in the Harvest

Matthew 8-10

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’”

Matthew 9:36-38

Our motive for praying our workers into the harvest can be need for personnel; but Jesus’ heart was moved by compassion for people. The harvest metaphor focuses our attention on the urgency of the task. Jesus was moved by a love for people. As we ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field, the Lord will be looking for workers who share his heart of compassion. Even the task-oriented, goal-directed personalities can be daily filled with the love of Christ. When we are filled with Christ’s love, we see crowds and the individuals in those crowds for who they are, people created in the image of God, seeking the life only their Creator can provide.

Ask God to fill us with his love so we, too, see people as he does this day.

“Lord God, fill me with your love and the heart to see people as you do, for your glory.”