| LOOKING FOR SOME OVER TIME? WORKING LIKE A DOG? This life is the pits? Matthew 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 16:20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. 33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. REFLECTIONS: Wow what hope! what words! what insights! When we take the time to not just read the scriptures but really visualize and apply them to our lives. What truth we find. Lets look at these verses again, lets see if we missed something the first time around. Did anybody notice in vs. 35 that JESUS didn’t exclude anyone or any town from his presence and promises. “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages” He went everywhere spreading the good news. From the rich to the poor, from the ghetto to the exclusive neighborhoods. the lowly and the aristocratic, He wanted all to hear his message of love and peace, deliverance and healing. Then there’s vs. 36 when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them” He sees everything, he notices all our pains and struggles, he feels for our hurts, he cares about our condition and circumstances. He can’t help but see and care, that’s why he is always looking ever present, waiting, dare I say anticipating our cry and call unto him.. Sometimes the only thing between us and him is our lack of faith. The only thing between our troubles and trials, and his answer and solutions, is our refusal to acknowledge him and his will over our lives. If we would but exercise our faith oh what miracles could happen! What storms could be calmed, what obstacles could be surmounted. What a harvest we could reap.. What compassion we could experience. After all Jesus is full of compassion, “his compassions are new everyday, and his mercy fails not” At least that’s what one writer said. And just when we think we are so all alone, so empty and without hope. So distant from any help or concern. When we feel so over whelmed, so caught up in the mess of life and troubles. And we think no one notices or even cares.. Then Jesus sends us a word of hope and encouragement to remind us he cares and is faithful to complete what he started in us. Oh he may send it in the form of a beautiful sunset or a lovely sunrise, or maybe it will be a bird chirping and singing us a song on our window sill, or maybe a kind word from a friend, a hug from a child, or a promise right out of his word the bible. But the problem is we seldom take the time to read it let alone find its hope and comfort. Were to busy looking in all the wrong places hence we miss it. The thing is we fail to read his promises to us, then we blame him for our lack. We fail our responsibilities, but expect him to fulfill his! We fail to pray but expect him to pay. Hey did anyone notice he said the Harvest is plenty but the labourers are few? Well lets ask ourselves a question, what’s all this talk about a Harvest? Hum... Well you see in the divine plan of God. The harvest is US as the Church, it is what he has been expecting and planning through out the ages. Which will one day enter thru the glorious and wondrous gates of Heaven. To see Jesus in all his splendor and wonder, in person face to face. Just imagine that...Where “there will be no more tears, no more death, no more pain, no more sorrow..” Do you see he does care and has been at work on our behalf but he is looking for labourers hence us. He said the labourers are few. You see the only Jesus some people may ever see is you and me. The only words they may ever hear are yours and mine. The only compassion they may ever get is yours and mine. And remember when things get a bit difficult or times seem to much to handle remember Jesus said in vs.22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you...be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” And if I may insert here: so can we. A PRAYER: Dear father... I to have been in the storm, ah but I to have doubted your promises and presence. Forgive me father for the times when I have been to unconcerned to selfish to care for others, let alone have compassion. I to have seen the multitudes. But unlike you I was only worried for my own needs and hurts, and what it would cost me PERSONALLY to reach for them with love and compassion. Forgive me.. Help me to realize that You are Lord and God over all. And that you have a plan for my future, hope for my situation, help for my circumstances.. Thank you that there is special place in Heaven reserved just for me, prepared just by you. Your so wonderful Lord, so awesome, so glorious, so loving kind and good how could I ever doubt you.. Blessed be your name.. |