Pray for workers

"He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.'" Matthew 9:37,38

On February 02, the Times Observer posted a story with the headline, "Hard work helps local runner join exclusive club." The writer then gave these statistics to show just how "hard" Jim Roberts had to work to become became the 145th person to run a marathon in each of the 50 states with a finish time for each race under four hours: Less than 1 percent of the American populace has run a marathon. About 1,700 people have run a marathon — 26.2 miles — in each of the 50 states. The number to run a marathon in each state with a finish time under four hours? Less than 150. And you can just imagine why the number of people to complete that amazing feat is so low... it takes hard work; hard work that nearly anyone can do (not sub-4 hour, but 50 marathons) but not many are willing to do. His marathon advice is that there’s “no substitute for putting in the work." And for people who think completing a marathon is out of their reach, Jim said, "Start slow, stick with it, expect road bumps. Keep plugging away. Keep making progress. Certainly anybody can run a marathon, can finish a marathon, truly.”

And you know, when it comes to being part of a small group of individuals willing to work hard, Jesus told his disciples that the harvest was great but the workers were few. He then told them to "pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest" and "ask him to send more workers into his fields.'" You see many people in our world are looking for hope and would accept Jesus as their Savior if only someone would go out and tell them about the blessed hope found only in Christ. But even the hardest working of evangelists is limited by time and space. Hence the reason every hard-working missionary (and we are all called to be missionaries) must pray that more people would join them in the mission of sharing Jesus with the lost. 

So be willing to work hard to fulfill the Great Commission my friend. After all, every one of us is called to do our part. But don't stop there. Pray that the Lord would send brothers and sisters who are committed to working hard to join you in the "fields." After all, as Helen Keller wisely said, "Alone we can do so little; together so much." 

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us all a clear-cut mission. Help us to not only work to complete it with all our might but to fervently pray that others would feel this same urgency to get out into the fields, the streets, the neighborhoods, and the entire world to share the Good News with the lost. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!