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September 26, 2007
In Pastor's Words
Harvest Time
This is celebration time! Another cycle of sowing, growing and harvesting is coming to a close and the ground will rest up during the Winter to give way for another cycle to begin in the Spring. Why are the seasons so reliable? Because of a promise of God in Genesis 8:22, which says, “As long as the earth endured, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” Harvest time gratifies the harvesters especially, because they can hold in their hands the results of their hard work. In addition, harvest time also generates thanks since we know that no matter how hard we may work, it is God who gives the increase and makes things grow. Most important of all, our physical harvest provides examples of the existence of a spiritual harvest ready right now.
Jesus referred to a spiritual harvest in Matthew 9:37 when he said, “the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” In those two verses “harvest” is mentioned three times to refer to people in need of salvation and who need our witness, prayer, encouragement and nurturing. The harvest fields of the world are as close to us as our next door neighbors or as far away as the remotest outposts of our planet. First, the harvest of people who are ready to receive Christ and be nurtured as disciples requires our prayer. “Ask the Lord of the harvest . . to send out workers” (Matthew 9:38). Would you be willing to take the time each day to pray for just one person, couple or family who may not attend church, who may not know Christ, and who needs to be part of the harvest? Just as a physical harvest was once an idea and a plan, a spiritual harvest begins with a prayer. Second, a spiritual harvest requires involvement. Just as the physical harvest must have enough workers at the right moment to gather ripened crops, there must be sufficient workers for God’s harvest of souls. Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Luke 10:2). We are the laborers! We who know and proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are God’s harvesters out in the world, inviting, befriending, encouraging, loving, helping and sharing the Good News of Jesus. Paul said, “we are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us” (2 Corm. 5:20).
While driving through vast orchards in Jericho, Israel one time, I was amazed to witness the total neglect of acres and acres of orange groves that contained some of the world’s most delicious oranges, oranges that would almost melt in your mouth. Millions and millions of oranges were left ripened on trees or rotting on the ground because laborers were few, explained my Israeli host. The lesson is clear from our Lord’s harvest instructions: people are waiting for our willingness to reach out with friendship, love and sharing the Gospel and will respond if we will obey Him. It’s harvest time now around the world and it’s harvest time in Worland. Let’s not let this harvest go unattended!
Pastor Ralph Partelow
Posted by Jennifer Herrmann at September 26, 2007 01:43 PM