Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Matthew 9:35-38
And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “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.” (ESV)
by John H. Camenga
The Samaritan traveler felt compassion on the victim of robbery. Matthew tells us that Jesus felt compassion for the multitudes who displayed the aimless and distressed attitude of shepherdless sheep. He was and is the Good Shepherd, presented to organize the flock and give direction and purpose. Yet it is through other members of the flock. Assigned duty as harvesters that the flock increases and the aimless can be aimed toward eternal life by joining the Good Shepherd’s flock. Christ did not tell the disciples to pray for converts. He told them to pra for workers. What’s my assignment? What’s yours?
Copyright Information
Daily Bible Meditations are taken from The Helping Hand,a Sabbath School student quarterly for youth and adults. Copyright © 2010, Seventh Day Baptist Board of Christian Education, Inc.
Scripture quotations marked "ESV" are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Text provided by the Crossway Bibles Web Service.
