Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.' Matthew 9:35-38 NIV Shepherds carry a rod, and a staff along with oil to lead and care for their flocks. They tenderly lead them because sheep will follow each other right off a cliff and are easily led off into a dangerous situation without the gentle prodding of the master. We have a choice as His followers to be led by His staff or prodded by His rod to be workers in the harvest of souls ripe now for these last days. In some cases in our church bubble existance today, there are those who need prodding with a rod to even share with the people "in the world" this compassion Jesus said we should have. There are many who assume we just have to give them seven easy steps on becomming a church member. We are in the last days and we need to pray for the Lord to send laborers in the harvest. Today hundreds of missionaries from other countries consider America a mission field of the lost and are here to win souls. Our country is about to go through its judgment just as the church of today will go through. Our country club existance high on some hill church bubbles are doing nothing but feeding pride, administrative positions of who people are and what they do which makes God sick to His stomach. Dead works won't win souls and either will pride or the religious legalism telling us what we can touch or eat or wear. In the end it is our choice, God's will, or ours, His staff or His rod, His worker in the harvest, or our own prideful religious works. |