Leckieville Freewill Baptist Church

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Labor Day

 8/31/08 Bro Lee

   Mt 9:36-38 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. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
 

 "The harvest truly is plenteous." There are people to reach; there is a work to be done. And the danger is that we don't see this as the most important work. Most everything else comes before this work, of reaching these with the Word of God.

   Jesus finds himself in a similar situation. I always find it interesting what he has to say about the subject because everything he says is truth.

    Notice he saw the multitudes. He did not focus just on the disciples or his inner circle of friends, but he looked out and saw the multitude. And he was moved with compassion. In other words, he did not see them, but he saw their need. They fainted and were scattered abroad just like sheep without a shepherd. He saw that they would soon run out of pasture and starve and that they would get lost and caught in some thicket and die. And in the meantime they were helpless.

   Jesus says that harvest is truly plenteous. Jesus saw the potential. Jesus did not focus on the hopelessness of the situation but he focused on hope. Jesus did not pity and do nothing but he said get the sickle and harvest them. Jesus did not see them as always being in that situation but he saw them being transformed into a different creature. He saw the lost being saved. He saw sinners becoming saints. He saw the guilty being set free. He saw the unforgiven being forgiven. He saw the hell deserving getting grace. Instead of moaning and groaning about the bad state of affairs he magnified the expectancy and hopefulness that are anticipated in the harvest.