Commandment 34: The Need for Laborers
“Pray ye the Lord of the harvest that He will send forth laborers into His harvest.” Mt. 9:38
Anyone who doesn't think God has a sense of humor needs to read this verse from Mathew 9:38. I can just see the disciples huddled in their sleeping areas all praying hard that night seeking to obey their Master as He had just told them to pray for more workers to be sent to spread the Good News of his arrival and the Promises of Gods Redemption and coming judgment, praying:
"O' Lord. Send forth laborers into your field. Send forth more laborers Lord, please send forth more laborers."
Maybe they thought of others who needed to go because they were religious leaders, or gifted men. It could be they thought God would raise up the Pharisees and straighten up their doctrines so they could be useful for his purposes. What about Nicodemas? He was a man of character among the leaders; maybe he will become a laborer in the harvest. I can see them now gathered in fervent prayer crying out to God in an all-night vigil.
Finally, after a hard night of intercession, they go to bed. And when
they awake . . . JESUS SENDS THEM!
Don't be surprised if God uses you to answer your own prayers. Sometimes the penetrating word of the Lord to serve others is directed straight to us. We must not ignore this when it happens. Believe it or not, YOU are part of God's answer for a lost and dying world. YOU are part of the plan He has to 'take this Gospel to all nations'.
If you are a believer, you are a part of that city on a hill. You are called to be a light in a dark world and God has empowered you with his Word and the Holy Spirit to make sure you have the right equipment for the job.
"Oh, but I'm not a good talker,” you might say. Moses tried that one. Didn't work! Aren't you glad? "
Oh, but I'm just a common person. What can I do?" Gideon gave that one a shot. Didn't work!
The giant Philistine Goliath underestimated that little red headed guy who came out against him in battle. "Am I a dog that you come to me with just a stick?” he said to David. He was right. He was a dog . . . a soon to be dead dog.
We need to learn to see ourselves through the eyes of our Heavenly Father. He says, "Greater is He that is in [you] than he that is in the world." He says, "[You] can do all things through Christ which strengthens [you]." He says, [you] are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.”
“Sure I am!” you might say. “What does He know?” . . . Everything!
There are many simple ways to begin sharing your faith or doing things to reach and help those around. One way is to get involved with someone who is already doing that. The next time there is an opportunity to volunteer or to go on a mission trip or do something that is a ministry to those in need, volunteer. There are some great organizations out there that could use your help.
There are also many less-formal ways to be a minister of Christ to others. Reaching out to your neighbors is one of those opportunities to do good; especially to those who are elderly or indigent in some way. Cut the lawn of an elderly person or overworked single parent in your neighborhood as an act of kindness. Take someone to the store or to Church or to a park who is transportation challenged. Start a neighborhood Bible study or fellowship in your home or theirs. God has a plan to share his love with the world and you are a part of that plan.
So go ahead and pray that the Lord will send out laborers, but in the meantime get a bag packed. He might send you! And guess what? You will love it. Few things I have known in life compare to those moments when God has used me to represent Christ to others, whether in word or in deed. As Christian's we are called to be ambassadors for the King of Kings. Ambassadors have certain powers that go along with the job, but if we don't ever exercise those powers, the job won't get done.
Now, as pertains to prayer for the laborers, we should definitely do this. Pray for missionaries, pastors, youth leaders, lay ministers, evangelists, intercessors, public servants, parents, teachers and home schoolers (don't think they're not ministers - they have the future church and leaders under their care).
Pray for those you know who are actively serving the Lord in any capacity. Whatever they are doing, if they are effective, the devil hates them.
In his great devotional handbook 29/59, former Pastor Peter Lord lays out a devotional plan for weekly prayer and meditation. In it, he outlines how to change the world in less than thirty minutes of daily prayer. He suggests that you make a schedule each day of what groups of people you will pray for on what days of the week. That way each week you will be praying for spiritual laborers several times depending on what field they are working in. You can find this prayer guide on Amazon or, if you do an online search, it is available in many other places and in many formats.
There are many such prayer guides available for those who need help in that area. Inevitably though, it comes down to this: pray for laborers. If you don't have a regular practice of praying for Christian workers, start today.
Start small. Just five minutes a day praying for those in your church or those you know about who are in the service of the Lord. It will not only affect their lives and ministries; it will also change you. Maybe that's what the Lord was doing that day after all; setting a precedent for them to follow after He was gone.
Craig Marlatt