GOING BUT NOT DOING

While waiting for a bus to take me to the hotel at the end of the day, I watched as several of them passed by my waiting area. As they sped to their destination, there was a sign in each of them that read, “Out of Service.”

Jesus, when speaking about the responsibilities of His disciples said, “Look around you! Vast fields are ripening all everywhere we look, and are ready now for the harvest.”

Our Lord repeatedly addressed a pressing need in His day and a need that we, as His disciples, face today: There are many in front us, to the side of us, and even behind us that are waiting to be brought into the Kingdom of God. It is not that He is unconcerned about them or that they are not willing to listen to His offer of salvation. Rather, it is because we, His followers, are out of service.

Sometimes we excuse ourselves from being His witnesses and “harvesters” by saying that our family members and friends are not ready to believe. Jesus, however, made it very clear that we are surrounded by an opportunity to be involved in a constant and continual harvest waiting to be reaped. It’s not that there are no fields to be harvested. It’s that we cannot (or refuse?) to see them!

Each day we must remind ourselves that He will return and find us doing “something.” What will that “something” be? Will He find us involved in taking the Good News of the Gospel to those around us? When He appears will we be doing what He has called us to do or find us out of service?

Prayer:  Lord, You have called us to labor with You in the “great harvest” by witnessing and winning the lost around us. Convict us of our lack of concern for “the harvest.” In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today:     But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. John 4:34-38