Devotionals from my Bible app: The Urgent Call (Matthew 9:37-38)

Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38, NKJV

Note before sharing the devotional: I’ve been thinking and praying more and more about "my life’s work" and what all that includes. Especially at the age (and stage) of life I am now, this question is growing further in importance. What is unmistakable so far is this: the Great Commission absolutely must be a part of it, and a key one at that. Still working on making myself pliable in this respect. One major way this will be is walking in the Spirit of God and keeping in step with His Spirit - the same Spirit that is received only when one also receives Jesus Christ as their Lord, King, and Savior.

The Urgent Call


Have you ever shared the good news of Jesus with someone in your life?


When Jesus was teaching and training the twelve disciples, he often used imagery and metaphors that were part of their culture to communicate important truths to them. In Matthew 9:37-38, Jesus relates the work that He is doing to a farmer’s work in the field.


Jesus says that the people who do not know Jesus are like a field of grain that is ready to be harvested. But, there are not enough workers to go and harvest among the fields. Jesus says to pray that God would send more workers to gather the harvest.


Essentially, there are people that are ready and willing to hear and respond to the gospel message, the hope that Jesus brings for every person. But when Jesus says "the workers are few" (Matthew 9:38), what He really means is: there are not enough people sharing the good news with others.


As Christians, we are entrusted with the free gift of eternal life, and we’re tasked with sharing that message with others. However, many Christians keep their faith to themselves.


We are to be bold in sharing the message of the cross with other people so that they can experience new life in Jesus, too.


Take a few minutes today to consider what small step you can take to begin sharing Jesus with other people. Ask your neighbors, coworkers, or friends what their spiritual background is so that you can begin having spiritual conversations. Pray for God to give you courage, and then step out and begin sharing with others.

Prayer: God, send more people into the harvest! Use me to make Your name known. Give me courage to have conversations with others as I share about You and Your Son and the way You have changed my life. In Jesus’s name, Amen.