Matthew 9:35–38
One of my favorite missionaries is George Liele. Born into slavery, he became the first African American ordained to Christian ministry and the first Baptist missionary to take the Gospel outside of the American colonies. Under the leading of the Holy Spirit, Liele chose to leave the United States for a land filled with unreached people. Along with his family, he set out for Jamaica to reach enslaved people with the good news of Jesus Christ.
As one historian writes, “when Liele arrived in Kingston and saw the wretched state of enslaved people living without God and without hope, his heart was filled with compassion for their souls. He boldly proclaimed the truth as it is in Jesus.” For the sake of the Gospel, Liele endured scorn, shame, beatings, and even prison.
Why would a man endure such suffering? Because he understood the words of Jesus: “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.”
Liele’s story reminds us that love for God and the grace He has shown us propels us to tell others about Jesus. The Lord calls all His people to become laborers in the field. The harvest already belongs to Him, but it must be gathered in. That is why Jesus calls us to pray, to ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers into His harvest.
Compassion is not passive, but moves us to action. It sees people not as interruptions, but as souls. It goes where the people are and proclaims the message of the Kingdom. Sometimes reaching the world begins with reaching the one right in front of us.
The question is not whether the harvest exists. The question is whether we are willing to go, to pray, and to be used by God for His glory.
In yesterdays sermon when asked what stops you from talking to people about Jesus, the number one response was “I am still growing in my faith.” Followed by, “not sure what to say.”
Well, we are going to be growing in our faith until we meet Jesus and it’s not always about saying the perfect thing, but saying something.
Try this next time you have an opportunity to have a conversation about Jesus. Pray silently and Listen. There will be a moment where you can lead the conversation towards Jesus.
For example: I was recently talking to a man about rasing kids. He was sharing all his struggles and I shared mine too. I turned the conversation to Jesus by simply saying, “bro, you know it’s only Jesus who gives me strength to be a father, because so many times I don’t know what to do.” I followed with, do you know Jesus?
Nothing fancy, just conversation between two human beings, both in need of a savior. One who knows Him and the other who doesn’t truly yet.
Prayer:
Lord of the harvest, give us hearts like Yours. Fill us with compassion for the lost. Strengthen us to go where You send us and to proclaim the Gospel faithfully. Use me this week to move in compassion and share the good news.
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