April 9, 2007
by Ian Fallis
Did you know that Jesus made only one prayer request?
Yes, there was only one thing Jesus ever asked His followers to pray for.
It must have been pretty important, right?
“Pray the Lord of the Harvest to send laborers into His harvest (Matthew 9:38)”
Why would He ask His followers to pray for that? We’re told in the preceding verses that Jesus was moved with compassion for the lost. If Jesus was moved with compassion for lost, we ought to be moved as well. In fact, that’s a key to being an effective sender.
With a heart for the lost, with a soul that is stirred to compassion the way our Lord’s was, we can see missionaries as an extension of our own ministry, and as someone we can partner with in taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
We will desire to be part of their ministry, and seek out opportunities – because we want the same thing they want, which is the same thing Jesus wants.
And let’s look for a moment again at exactly what Jesus wants us to do: “Pray the Lord of the Harvest to send laborers into His harvest (Matthew 9:38).”
Only Jesus didn’t just say pray. The word He used might be more accurately translated as “get down on your knees and beg.” Jesus was deeply moved, and He wants us to be as well.
And the word translated here as send is also translated as “thrust,” but even that is too mild. If I can paraphrase again, I’d say that’s better understood as “pick them up and toss them out the door.”
This prayer request is emphatic and powerful. Can you imagine someone sharing a prayer request like this: “Get down and your knees and beg the Father to grab folks and toss them out into His mission field”?
And if someone did share that, would you do it?
Someone did indeed share that. Jesus did. If Jesus asked us to pray for one thing and one thing only, we ought to pray for it.
Be careful. If you do, you run the risk of being one of those He grabs and tosses out.
But let’s say you’re not one of them. Does that mean you’re off the hook? No.
How is God’s work on earth accomplished? Through His Church. If God is going to toss laborers out into His field, who does He expect to do the physical labor? His Church.
Who does He expect to pray for the laborers? Supply for their needs? Encourage them? Who does He expect to be actively involved in their ministry? His Church.
His Church -- that's you!
The great thing is, He is at work in each of us to conform our hearts to His. As we grow more like Him, our compassion for the lost will grow as well. And more and more, we’ll desire to be either a "tossee" or a "tosser."
Not comfortable with that yet? No problem! Just be obedient. Follow Him, and take a few practice throws. You'll get it. |
GET INVOLVED
