Readings for today: Deuteronomy 21-22, Luke 9:51-10:12, Psalms 74, Proverbs 12:11
“The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.” (Luke 10:2-4)
This is one of my favorite passages to teach on in Ethiopia. In just over fifteen years, we have preached the gospel to 3.5 million people. We have seen almost 600,000 come to Christ. We have planted well over 4000 churches and baptized almost 100,000 new believers. And still the harvest remains plentiful! What God is doing in Ethiopia has spilled out into South Sudan and Uganda. We already have our first church plant in Djibouti and just planted 25 more in Myanmar. I fully expect this revival to reach Somalia and Eretria in a few years and then jump the Gulf into Saudi Arabia and Yemen. By the time I die, I am praying God gives us a chance to plant churches in Mecca.
The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. We are asking God to raise up more church planters from our indigenous partner denominations. We are asking God to raise up more churches in America to join this work. We are asking God to bring His resources to bear so we don’t become the limiting factor in who God is seeking to reach. We need laborers who will pray. Laborers who will give. Laborers who will go. Laborers who will lead. There is an urgency to this mission! We cannot delay! We cannot let our fears get the best of us! God is sending us out as lambs amidst wolves. The work will be hard. There will be pain and suffering and persecution. Joining God on His mission always costs us dearly. But the price is worth it!
How are you engaged in God’s mission? Jesus tells His disciples to pray to the Lord of the harvest to raise up laborers and then in the same breadth sends them forth. They are part of the solution! They are part of the answer to their own prayers! They have been called by God to go into the harvest field to reap what God has sowed. The same is true for us. You cannot be a Christian without being a laborer! You cannot be a follower of Jesus without being sent! You cannot be a disciple without being a missionary! Get engaged, friends! Join your brothers and sisters around the world and start reaping the glories of serving Christ!
Readings for tomorrow: Deuteronomy 23-25, Luke 10:13-37, Psalms 75, Proverbs 12:12-14