35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Matthew 9:35-10:4
Questions for Reflection:
Do you ever struggle with the reality that the plaguing problems that people you care about have are too big for you to fix?
Where does Jesus tell us to turn when that happens?
How does it feel to be a partial answer to your own prayer when that happens?
Prayer of the Week:
Father, Son, Holy Spirit I am so excited that I get to live this day united to You in the very depth of my being. Thank you Jesus for reconciling me to my Father in heaven who loves me very much. Thank you Spirit for filling me afresh with the very presence of Jesus. I receive You now and consecrate myself to You and Your purposes for me this day. I am Yours and You are mine.
Jesus, today I want to take some time to gaze and be amazed at Your compassion for me and for all people. Compassion authored in Your heart becomes a gut-wrenched grace that removes worthiness from the qualification of whether one gets loved. In fact, your compassion has no filtering list – You just see people…… ALL needing love, grace, mercy and redeeming rescue. I am so very glad that I am counted in the, ALL, people that You view with compassion. Thank you!!!
I now receive Your unmerited favor on me. I am so unworthy of Your grace but so in need Your grace. Thank you!
Jesus, today I open myself up to be shaped by Your compassion FOR me so that people might receive Your compassion FROM me. I surrender to such a transformation. I want to see people through compassion lensed eyes. With these eyes You see me and with these eyes I want to see others. Moved by compassion I now pray, as You asked me to do, for You to send people to bring the good news of Your kingdom reign in words and deeds. Send workers into Your harvest field Jesus, send them.
Even as I pray, I open myself up be a part and play my role in this prayer’s answer. I affirm now that I am not alone in this harvest work but do play a significant role as a worker in Your harvest field. Use me I pray to bring Your Kingdom grace to someone today. Today, I get to listen, truly listen, with compassionate ears and follow Your lead, Holy Spirit, in all the next steps of loving people well as Your “salt and light” influencer in my part of Your world. WOW!
The adventure continues. AMEN.
