He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out.”
Luke 10:2,3

The Harvest

When I was in grade school and high school, I worked for a couple different dairy farmers as a farmhand. I enjoyed being around the milking cows and their calves. I also enjoyed working out in the fields. In October, we would harvest the corn crop. The farmer would drive the harvester combine in the cornfield. My job was to drive a tractor from the field back to the farm pulling a wagon filled with corn to be unloaded into a corn crib. Eventually the cows would eat the harvested corn. I enjoyed doing my part in the corn harvest.

In today’s Bible reading, Jesus told his disciples that it was time for the harvest. Jesus wasn’t talking about harvesting corn. He meant harvesting the souls of the many people in his day that weren’t trusting in him as this world’s only Savior from sin, death, and hell. Jesus instructed his disciples to take this important matter to the Lord in prayer, asking God to provide the needed spiritual harvesters. Then Jesus said, “Go! I am sending you.” The disciples themselves were the answer to their prayers. They were to go and proclaim the good news of a living Savior to a dying world.

Look around in your family, neighborhood, place of work, or school. Do you see how plentiful the harvest is? All around are the souls of real people who are living and dying in unbelief and sin, tragically becoming part of Satan’s hell harvest even though their sins were paid for by the blood of Jesus. Pray to the Lord to provide the needed spiritual harvesters. And then recognize that Jesus is saying to you, “Go! I am sending you.” You are the answer to your prayer. Jesus harvested you so that you could now be his spiritual combine and harvest others for heaven.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for harvesting my soul by bringing me to faith in you as my personal Savior from my sins. Send out workers, myself included, into your ripe harvest fields. Bless our harvesting efforts to your glory. Amen.

He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them. You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and strange language, but to the people of Israel.”
Ezekiel 3:4,5

Your Mission

It’s been said that the worst thing in golf would be to hit a hole-in-one but not having witnesses. Or getting engaged and no one answers the phone to listen to your good news. When we have good news, we want to share it. Sometimes, we cannot help but share it. What if you didn’t have anybody with whom to share the good news about Jesus?

Thankfully, the Lord doesn’t isolate his messengers on an island. God sent the prophet Ezekiel, for example, to the people of Israel. What about you? Have you identified your audience? They are there. It may be intimidating to reach out to your audience but thank God you have audience.

Not only do you have an audience, but God has also uniquely equipped you to reach out to them. Sometimes we think mission work is only done among people that are different than us—a different culture, a different race, or those who speak a different language. But look around. Not every mission field has to be to people with an obscure or strange language. Your mission field may be the people you eat lunch with at work. They may be in your neighborhood or home. What an opportunity!

But what should I say to the audience that God has planted in my midst? The Lord says, “Speak my words to them.” You don’t need to make things up. You don’t need to apologize or argue. Simply speak the Word of God. God’s richest blessings as you reach out to your personal audience with the sweet message of God’s Word.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, open my eyes to see the audience that you have planted around me. Give me the courage to speak your Word to them and bless the message. Amen.

Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out to me. In it was a scroll, which he unrolled before me. On both sides of it were written words of lament and mourning and woe.
Ezekiel 2:9,10

Speechless

Your friend just lost her child in a tragic car accident. You’re meeting for coffee and on the way, you think, ‘I don’t know what to say.’

Many situations may leave us speechless. It’s one thing to be speechless when trying to comfort a friend. It’s a whole other thing to feel speechless when talking to someone about spiritual matters. It can be intimidating. We may feel pressure knowing that we have the opportunity to speak words that can have an eternal effect. We may feel ill-equipped. ‘What if I say the wrong thing? What if I don’t know an answer to one of their questions?’

Before you buckle under the pressure, take comfort in a truth that God shared with one of his spokespeople, Ezekiel. When Ezekiel was commissioned to talk about spiritual matters, he could have easily said, “I don’t know what to say.” What made it worse, was that Ezekiel was being sent to people that were rebellious, obstinate, and stubborn. Yet, he could take comfort knowing that the words he would share were not his words, but God’s. “I saw a hand stretched out to me. In it was a scroll, which he unrolled before me.”

Knowing that the Word was coming from God’s hand to his mouth, Ezekiel could go forward in confidence. And so can you. As you encounter opportunities to speak God’s Word, know that it’s precisely that—God’s Word, not yours. His Word cuts to the heart and binds up the broken-hearted. His Word is effective. His Word is filled with power.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, take my lips and let them be, filled with messages from Thee. Amen.

The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” [Jesus] replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Luke 10:17-20

Joy of Eternal Life

On one occasion, Jesus sent his disciples into towns and villages to declare that the kingdom of God was near. Those who listened would find God’s kingdom in Jesus, the Son of God. The disciples felt the joy of spreading the good news. They were also quite impressed with the power God had given them to carry out this work.

The disciples returned overflowing with joy. Jesus rejoiced with the disciples over their success. He pointed out that when his followers faithfully proclaim forgiveness of sins in his name, Satan falls from heaven. That means Satan can no longer stand before God and accuse believers of deserving eternal death. Jesus promised continued success. The devil and his friends would not be able to stop them. God would see to that.

But Jesus did not want his disciples to get all wrapped up in the miracles they could perform. Rather, they were to rejoice that they had an eternal inheritance waiting for them in heaven.

And that is our joy too. Jesus, our loving Savior, gives us eternal life. He earned it for us by his holy life and his innocent death. Of all the things which we thank God, this is one of the greatest: the joy of eternal life with Jesus!

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you that, because of what you have done for me, my name is written in heave. Amen.

Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
Luke 9:61,62

Onward and Upward

“What’s the goal?” That’s an important bit of information if you’re being asked to do something. It’s important to know: what’s my purpose; what’s my goal? If you don’t know what you’re aiming for, you’re likely never going to meet your goal.

When it comes to being a disciple of Jesus, our Savior makes the goal exceedingly clear. Our ultimate goal is eternal life in heaven; that’s what we’re aiming for. The apostle Paul could not have stated it more plainly than he did in his letter to the Colossians. “Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (3:1,2).

When a person once told Jesus, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family,” Jesus immediately replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” His point was crystal clear: if you’re going to be my disciple, you’ll need to direct your eyes onward and upward. He knows that we are easily distracted by the things and people of this world. Don’t look back, he urges us. Don’t take your eyes off the goal.

But don’t get Jesus wrong either. He wants us to demonstrate love and concern for the people in our lives, especially our families. He has called us to serve them daily in every way we can. But he also wants us to realize that if the choice is between him and our families—between our lives in this dying world and life everlasting with him in heaven—there simply can be no contest. Jesus and the heaven he freely gives us must be our ultimate goal.

And how do we get there? Not by our own doing, but through Jesus and his powerful Word. Cherish that saving Word because it directs your eyes onward and upward.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, grant me your Spirit that I may always keep my heart and mind firmly fixed on you. Amen.

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
Luke 9:57,58

Jesus Calls Us to Be All In

Once upon a time, I had grade school friends who were very important to me. We would ride bikes together, play hours of ball, go to the movies, and sleepover at one another’s homes. At times, my life revolved around them. They were that important.

And now they’re gone. We didn’t have a falling out. We just grew apart. We went to different schools and moved away from our hometown. At one time, we were so committed to one another, but no more. And that’s okay. God didn’t insist that we be committed to one another for the rest of our lives.

But it’s different when it comes to my wife. She and I have been friends for almost 25 years now and married for about 20 years. Unlike the relationships I had with my schoolmates, my wife and I made promises to one another before God. We promised to be faithful to one another as long as we both shall live. In other words, God has called us to be all in. It can’t be halfway or even 99 percent. It requires 100 percent commitment because being married to a sinner is hard. Just ask my wife how hard it is!

When Jesus once had a man say to him, “I will follow you wherever you go,” he seemed to be expressing 100 percent commitment to the Savior. What music to Jesus’ ears! But Jesus wanted this man to realize what following him meant. “Foxes have dens and birds have nests,” he replied, “but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” In other words, following Jesus in this world is no walk in the park; it’s a challenge. Yes, it’s an all-in proposition that requires us to deny ourselves and take up cross and follow him (Mark 8:34).

Yes, it’s difficult, but not impossible. And why? Because Jesus is 100 percent all in. Even when we’re unfaithful to him, he remains faithful to us. And that will never change. He’s promised to be our Savior-friend forever.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, empower me to be faithful to you by marveling at your faithfulness to me. Amen.

As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.
Luke 9:51

Determined to Save

There are different ways to describe people who are deeply committed to their mission. Sometimes they are called pit bulls, or maybe it is said of them that they have a laser focus. They’re the type of self-starters who carry out their assigned duties with no holds barred, and give 110 percent. Or perhaps they are described as true believers and people who are willing to do anything to get the job done right and on time. The point of all these descriptions is simple and straightforward: these folks are not halfway committed to their cause, they are bound and determined. Nothing and no one is going to stop them.

We might not naturally picture Jesus that way, as someone stepping over anyone who gets in his way to fulfill his mission. It’s more likely that we picture him the way Christian artists have traditionally portrayed him, as a soft, gentle, good shepherd type who wouldn’t hurt a flea. But while it’s true that Jesus is the world’s ultra-gentle Good Shepherd, who carries his lambs close to his heart (Isaiah 40:11), he’s also the mightiest of warriors, a singular soldier in God’s salvation army. He has a mission, and he is bound a determined to fulfill it.

That’s how St. Luke pictures Jesus for us today, as a man who “resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” And why was he going there? To die for the sins of the entire world.

Being bound and determined to face your death is not at all natural for human beings, especially when it promises to include the kind of brutality that Jesus’ death entailed. But not only was Jesus willing to endure that kind of death, he was bound and determined to do so.

And why? Because of his unchanging and unconditional love for you and me and every sinner. Yes, Jesus is bound and determined to save us not because we’ve deserved it; but because we need him to do it so desperately.

And nothing will stop him from carrying out his saving mission perfectly.

Prayer:
Jesus, thank you for being so bound and determined to save me and all sinners. Lead me always to trust in your unfailing love and salvation. Amen.

God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7

The Gift of the Holy Spirit

Do you ever feel timid or weak in your spiritual struggles?

Fifty days after Jesus rose from the dead, God sent his Holy Spirit to his believers. Wouldn’t it be strange if the Holy Spirit made the disciples more timid? More fearful? More hesitant? Wouldn’t it be strange if it turned out that the Holy Spirit was a spineless, powerless, timid spirit? Wouldn’t it be strange if the Holy Spirit led us to cave in or give up in our spiritual struggles?

The Bible teaches us what kind of spirit the Holy Spirit is and what kind of spirit he produces inside us— “a spirit not of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.”

A spirit of power. The power God used to make the universe. The power that God used to raise his Son from the dead after paying for our sins. That power is at work in us by his Holy Spirit.

A spirit of love. This power at work in us is not power over financial problems, health problems, or social problems. It’s power to resist the devil, to put off the sinful nature’s anger, hate, and envy. It’s power to love as Christ has loved us.

A spirit of self-discipline. Our sinful nature wants to run rampant. The devil tempts us to indulge self. But the Holy Spirit gives us power to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Jesus.

When you feel weak in faith, helpless against the devil, or fearful in the face of life’s challenges, remember this, the Holy Spirit is not weak or timid. And your spirit, given by the Holy Spirit in you, is a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. As God gave you forgiveness of all your sins by Christ’s death, as God gave you eternal life in heaven by Christ’s resurrection from the dead, God also gives you the Holy Spirit. Trust him to help you and empower you in your spiritual struggles.

Prayer:
Dear Father, thank you for your love and forgiveness through Jesus. Empower me by your Spirit to be strong in faith in Jesus and to deny myself and follow Jesus. Amen.

So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.
2 Timothy 1:8

Connected to Jesus

He was a pastor in a country where Christianity was illegal. So, he went by his initial “L”—not his real name—for safety. He drove a truck full of Bibles to distribute them in rural villages—illegal. He ran Sunday Schools where children were taught Jesus—illegal. He ran worship services and taught Bible studies outside the state-controlled church—illegal. Things got really bad, so he boarded a plane in search of asylum. Before the plane took off, authorities boarded and removed “L.” He wasn’t under arrest, but he also wasn’t free to go.

The apostle Paul knew what it was to suffer for sharing God’s Word. In this case, he was writing to his friend, Timothy, from prison. But telling others about Jesus was so important that no amount of suffering would stop him from doing so.

Has suffering, or the fear of it, stopped you from living and sharing your faith in Jesus? In America, the consequences of being an “outed” Christian do not include imprisonment or torture. But have you allowed the fear of what might happen keep you from telling others about Jesus?

It’s easy to do. And it’s why we need a sacrifice who suffered for our sake. A Savior who was not ashamed to be counted among the fearful so that he might rescue people like you.

Because he did, suffering for my faith becomes a chance to be connected to Jesus, to be the mirror that reflects the love of my Savior to a dying world. Just like “L,” just like Paul.

For the closing prayer today, let’s use the words of Ignatius of Antioch. Ignatius was an early Christian, so early that he learned about Jesus under the apostle John. May his prayer be our prayer as we face suffering.

Prayer:
“Let fire and the cross; let the crowds of wild beasts; let tearings, breakings, and dislocations of bones; let cutting off of members; let shatterings of the whole body; and let all the dreadful torments of the devil come upon me: only let me attain to Jesus Christ. Amen.”

Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
2 Timothy 1:4,5

From Generation to Generation

I remember visiting my grandparents every summer. They were farmers who lived in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. One reason I loved to visit was the copious amounts of ice cream my Grandma Eunice had hidden away for us. Another reason was the chance to ride big machines. But do you know what I remember, to this day, even more than push pops or tractors? I remember my Grandfather Lois read to us from his Bible after breakfast. He never read for very long, and it was never a big deal. But in those few minutes of reading, he modeled for the family what was important, and even a seasoned Christian regularly gets into God’s Word.

Young Pastor Timothy had models in his life too. A grandmother and mother who prioritized a relationship with the living God. Women who passed their faith down to their son and grandson. Their faith meant so much to them that they gave it to those they loved most. And look what God accomplished in that generational gift! How many more generations have come to faith because Lois and Eunice passed down their faith!

Maybe you never had that: a family that spent time in God’s Word—maybe you didn’t even go to church growing up. Maybe your family went to church, but that was the extent of “Jesus talk” during the week. That’s not easy, but you aren’t alone. God has a habit of calling the unlikely into his kingdom and making them family.

One final thought, consider this your calling to be a Lois or Eunice to the children in your life—to your kids, your grandkids, a niece or nephew, or the kids in your classroom. What you and I believe is too good to not pass on.

Prayer:
Dear Holy Spirit, thank you for giving me a family of faith, for those who have played spiritual mom and dad in my life. Keep them safe from harm and temptation. Give me opportunities to pass on what I believe to the next generation. Amen

Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Romans 5:3,4

The Difference

For many, it is the stuff of nightmares, a physical condition too horrific to contemplate, the worst of worst-case scenarios. But for a young boy by the name of Nick Vujicic [pronounced, VOY-yitch-itch], this nightmare was real.

Nick was born with no arms and no legs. Let that sink in for a moment. He was born with no arms and no legs. What you and I could not imagine facing for one month or one day, Nick was facing for his entire life. By the age of 8, the darkness of his circumstances was about to swallow him. “I have no life,” he thought. “I’ll never get married. I’ll never be able to do anything. I’ll never be able to be anything. I have no life.”

Fast forward 25 years. Today, Nick travels around the world giving motivational speeches to children, adults, business leaders, prisoners, and everyone in-between. He’s a college graduate. He drives a car, goes fishing, records music, plays soccer, and swims. And he is also married and the father of a young son.

What happened? What made such a difference? Nick’s physical circumstances did not change. He still has no arms and no legs. What made the difference was the gospel. What made the difference was Jesus Christ.

Through the message of sins forgiven and new life in Jesus, Nick came to see his life very differently. As a redeemed child of God through faith in his Savior, Nick recognized that he had a unique opportunity to encourage others with the good news of Christ. Now his heart overflows in thankfulness. As Nick likes to say, “I’ve never met a thankful person who was bitter. And I’ve never met a bitter person who was thankful.”

Don’t misunderstand. Nick’s life is still difficult. It’s still full of struggle. But seeing his life as Jesus sees his life has made all the difference. That is what makes all the difference for you and me too.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, as I struggle through this world, open my eyes to see my life as you see my life. Empower me to live a life that proclaims you. Amen.

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Romans 5:3-5

We Glory in Suffering

Which sounds better to you? “Avoid suffering at all costs” or “We glory in our sufferings.” Your initial reaction is probably that the first one sounds better. But after you think about it, you realize that even trying as hard as you can to avoid it, you can’t avoid all suffering.

You can eat clean and exercise, but you could still get sick. You can take a defensive driving course, obey the speed limit and rules of the road, but it might not be enough to protect you from the distracted driver. You can be selfless and loving, but it doesn’t mean you won’t face rejection or that your heart won’t be broken. Sometimes it seems like life is a winepress, and you are the grape.

Okay, you can’t avoid suffering, but how do you find glory in it? Christians know the ultimate source of suffering is sin. And they also know that God doesn’t waste that suffering. God uses suffering as a means for drawing believers to himself. When suffering happens, Christians can rely on God’s Word and promises. Faith in God grows, and so the suffering produces perseverance.

When Christians depend on God through tough times, again and again, that produces character. And a Christian who has been tried and tested by the trials and suffering of this world has a confident hope. This world and all its suffering will eventually come to an end.

God poured out his love by sending his Son, Jesus, to suffer the ultimate punishment of sin. Because of that suffering, God sends his Holy Spirit into the hearts of believers to strengthen them through their suffering. And so, yes, you can glory in suffering. God’s using it to draw you closer to him.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for suffering for my sin in my place. Help me to find comfort knowing that my present suffering will come to an end and draw me closer to you. Amen.

“They will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”
Numbers 6:27

God Puts His Name on His People

In the popular Toy Story movies, toys come to life with personalities of their own when humans are not present. The main character, Woody, is a cowboy sheriff doll. When Woody gets anxious, worried, or forgets his identity, he lifts his boot and sees the name “ANDY” scribbled on the underside. It’s the name of his owner. Woody then remembers who he is and his purpose. He finds meaning in his identity.

God wanted to put his name on his people. One of the jobs of the priests of ancient Israel was to speak a blessing using God’s name. It was God’s way of putting his name on the people he loved. It was their reminder of their purpose, meaning, and identity.

God still puts his name on his people. Many churches close their worship services with the words of this ancient blessing. It’s a reminder that God’s name is on the people he loves.

When we hear that blessing, it’s a reminder of who we are. It’s like Woody checking the bottom of his boot and seeing the name “ANDY” scrawled there. With this blessing, God puts his name on his children.

When you feel anxious or afraid, remember God’s name is on you. When you forget who you are, remember that God has claimed you. He’s put his name on you. When your sins weigh you down, remember Jesus has washed them away. He’s made you his child, and God loves to bless his children.

Prayer:
Dear God, thank you for putting your name on me and claiming me as your child. Help me to always find my purpose and identity in the simple fact that you love me. Amen.

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
John 16:13

The Spirit of Truth

Try teaching a preschool student some high school geometry. Unless you’re working with a very rare math prodigy, it’s not going to go very well. It’s hard enough to teach a three-year-old the names of the shapes, let alone how to find the angles of an isosceles triangle. You start with the basics.

When Jesus spoke these words to his disciples, it was the night before his crucifixion. Jesus had been training his disciples for three years. They had learned a lot about the kingdom of God and the mission of Jesus. Yet there was still so much that they did not know.

Instead of trying to cram all his teachings into their brains in one night like a procrastinating college student the night before an exam, Jesus promised them the gift of the Holy Spirit who would teach them truths they had yet to learn.

The disciples received that gift on the Day of Pentecost after Jesus went into heaven. The Holy Spirit opened their hearts and minds to God’s Word so that they could share that Word with others.

Jesus still sends the Holy Spirit. The Spirit works through God’s Word. When people join a church, they often take a Bible information class. They learn the basics of Christianity from the Bible before progressing in their knowledge of the truth. Growing in that truth takes time.

So, take the time. Take the time to read and study the Bible. You have Jesus’ promise that, when you do, he will send the Holy Spirit to help you grow in your knowledge of the truth.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to reveal the truth. Help me to want to always keep learning more about you. Amen.