Day 36. Pray for laborers while the harvest is available.

Luke 10:1-2. (CSB)

After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others, and he sent them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest."

As a part of his plan to grow the Kingdom, Jesus appointed followers (disciples) to prepare towns for a visit from the Messiah. Here a couple of observations about Jesus' ministry organization.

• He gave clear instructions with a clear goal in mind. They were to "go ahead" and prepare towns for his coming. They were also told what to pack, to travel lightly, remain with one house, do miracles as time and the Spirit allowed, be gracious, and do not linger if there is opposition. They were not going to war with people. They were making Jesus visible to people--and they were looking for those who responded positively to the idea that the Messiah had come.

• Jesus seems to have levels to his organization. Note that this was not just the work of the 12. Luke states that 72 were sent (Matthew says 70). So, there were 12 who sat close to him and learned deeply. Could it be that those 12 had 6 others that they worked with, training them to prepare each town for the coming of the main group--and Jesus himself? Thus, there were 12 clear leaders with Jesus. And they ,multiplied their efforts by training others to "prepare the way of the Lord."

It is a good plan, and these "advance scouts" made Jesus' work more efficient by showing him what towns would be ready to receive his message--and which towns would not be ready.

And Jesus himself sees that the opportunities were abundant, and his followers were finite. The call for prayer for more laborers must be a common agricultural thought. As the summer season moved swiftly into fall and winter, there was pressure to get bountiful harvests completed before the seasons changed the fruit lay wasted in the fields. A time of rest was coming--and the harvest would be stored for that time. So, Jesus' request for harvesters shows the pressing nature of ministry. When a door for mission and ministry is open to us, we need to walk through it. We are not guaranteed constant access to mission or ministry. Sometimes we will be called to rest, or plow, or plant, or clear the land. And sometimes we are called to work the harvest. Harvest when the fields are ripe. Rest when the winter comes.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for sending us to your work. Help us to see where you are working. Help us to aid in the harvest. Multiply our numbers with new converts.

Amen.