Harvest

Matthew 9:36-38 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."

I have just returned from an amazing trip to the northern part of Nicaragua. About ten minutes from the Honduras border is a community of 35,000 people eking out an existence and trying to find their way forward. The community is filled with all types of social problems and is one of the areas where child prostitution is rampant. My purpose was to build into some local pastors in that area the only hope of the world: Jesus Christ. I think this is somewhat what Jesus was talking about in this passage above.

Our first task was to encourage pastors who have been working, many for only a few dollars a month, to be true to the mission and ministry to which God had called them. I have long believed that the role of a pastor is to lead a life of Christian value and character, and that our lives should reflect the inner peace we have discovered in walking and living for Christ. But in difficult places and extreme poverty, this Jesus walk we often take for granted is compromised. How do we stay faithful when those around us have no hope? How do we lead when we ourselves are caught in the quagmire of legalism and even outward sin?

I was reminded through the passage above that these leaders were themselves helpless and harassed; in fact, they were like sheep without a shepherd. The challenge to do more than just encourage is something that we must take seriously, the future of the church in this area is dependent upon the faithful joining together to proclaim the unchanging work and word of Christ.

Even as I ministered to these pastors I was reminded of the countless others who were dependent upon the faithful proclamation of the word of Christ through them. The words of Jesus echoed in my mind, "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them." If Jesus were here today, He would have compassion for them. We drove around the city through mud roads because of the rains, and viewed broken down homes and shanties which barley protected the villagers. It was easy to see the despair and hopelessness of the people; evidences were everywhere of the needs that these people of God so desperately lack.

As we left this town, I was reminded that indeed Jesus had been there today. He had been there with me, and His words, not mine made an impact. I was reminded that the food that they were able to eat this day was food from Jesus and not my hands; I was reminded that the words of encouragement, which I shared, were the words which Jesus wanted to share with them. I spoke to them because long ago I answered the call to join the harvest. My prayer is that you will join as well.

Blessings, Rip