Lord of the Harvest

….more than twice as many people have requested assistance for the Christmas season from the Salvation Army than all of last year. Some people got up at the crack of dawn to line up in the hopes of providing their kids with Christmas gifts. (source)

Five states posted jobless rates above 12% in August, according to federal data released Friday. (source)

In each of these stories these are real people who are hurting; people who Jesus looks down upon with compassion. This is who Jesus was talking about when he said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.”

Unfortunately as Christians we become too tangled up with our own lives—our own beliefs—that we do not see what is going on around us. We fail to see the hurting person in the corner at church or the person on the street who only wants to know if God can truly love them. I am reminded of the story when Jesus met the woman at the well. (John 4)

A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) John 4:7-8

What happens next? Did Jesus share his opinion concerning her current lifestyle (he did only AFTER she asked for some of his Living Water)? Did Jesus ask her what church she goes to? What denomination? Did Jesus share his belief on family planning, abortion, or homeschooling? Or did he asked her what she thought of predestination, whether drinking was a sin or not, or if she believed in once saved always saved? NO. Jesus responded:

10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” 13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”

He told her I can offer you MORE than you are asking for. He loved her, showed compassion upon her and in return she responded to his compassion. Jesus did not care what misguided beliefs she may have held at the time, Jesus was not concerned about her past sins at that moment, Jesus met her right where she was warts and all. There is no condemnation in Jesus, so why do so many feel condemnation inside our churches? John 4: 39 “Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony…”

Healthy debates among Christians are okay, but sometimes we become narrow minded and forget our purpose. We are to love God with all our heart, mind and soul. Love others more than ourselves, and preach the gospel. There are many hurting people out there right now; you may be one of them. God is calling you to him and telling you to drink from his living water and you will never be thirsty again.

He does not care how you have lived your life before you come, he does not care about your limitations or lack of abilities. He says all of you who are hurting, just come.

And Christians we need to be seeking out those who are hurting, do not become narrow minded or legalistic in your thinking. Lead these people to the Living Water, God will sort everything else out.

Dear Heavenly Father, Lord of the Harvest, I know in writing this post I have three fingers pointing back at me. Give me Jesus eyes, help me show compassion to others, especially those who do not know you and may be living a different lifestyle than me. Father I pray many Christians will answer the call to feed your sheep, to go out into the harvest and love on your people. Do not let Satan bind us in small petty differences within the Christian faith. You make everything simple, you call us to love you, love others and share your gospel.

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If you are unsure if you are a Christian, if you are hurting and feel that God could never love you because of sin in your life. Jesus says come let me give you a drink of the Living Water, where you will thirst no more. No your problems will not magically disappear but God does promise peace in the midst of storms, eternal life where NOTHING (no sin, nothing) can separate you from the love the Christ. God can not make you come, you need to take the first step towards him. But after that first step in prayer God will guide you and lead you. Below is an example prayer, the words are not what is important but your hearts desire.

Dear Lord Jesus,

I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I now invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as Lord and Savior.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer for the first time, fill out this form and the Billy Graham association will send you some free material. You will receive a book titled Knowing Christ via regular mail.

God’s Girl,

Lori

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