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Have you ever heard it said, “Teamwork makes the dream work?” If you have ever been on a team, then you know that this is true. It is also likely you have discovered this is not always easy. One of the greatest problems teams face is lack of commitment and participation. When a team comes together and they begin firing on all cylinders, with everyone doing their part, the sky is the limit of what they can accomplish.

Jesus started a team with 12 men over 2000 years ago. God is still choosing people to join His team today. Have you answered the call? If you have, congratulations! What an amazing privilege to be selected by God to play a part. Today’s devotion describes what it is like to be on God’s team.

Scripture: Matthew 9:35-38

35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Observations:

  • Jesus was on the mission of God, working the work of the One who sent Him while it was day (John 9:4). This chapter is marked with work after work, sign after sign. What’s really interesting to note, despite all of Jesus’ labor of love, there was still much work that needed to be done. A work that He would entrust His disciples to carry on, who would entrust other faithful men to carry on the work.

    • Jesus traveled through out all the cities and villages. Not only the popular and prestigious places, but He also visited the forgotten and overlooked. Notice how diligent our Lord was in His work. Matthew used the word went. An important detail about Jesus and the work He did; He did not do anything on His own accord (John 5:19). Therefore, when Jesus went, it was because He was sent.

    • What’s interesting is the criticism that Jesus endured for doing the good work. In the previous verse (34), the Pharisees made a false accusation against the work of Christ. Notice however, their criticisms were powerless to cause the work to cease.

  • Note: Every job comes with an assignment. His work consisted of what He was sent to do:

    • Teaching in their synagogues. Jesus held discourse with the people to establish sound doctrine, not only for the disciples of HIs at the time, but also for those who were to come (John 17:20).

    • Proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom to anyone who had ears to hear. The gospel of the kingdom is the good news that something has been done. Namely, God sent His Son into to the world, and all who put their trust in Him will be saved.

    • Healing every disease and affliction, which was not His primary agenda, but the proof of authenticity that He was the Christ.

  • When He saw the crowds

    • The writer indicates that Jesus saw the crowds, suggesting that there were many that were in need. It also reveals He had the capacity to see them all. We may be invisible and overlooked by man, but we are most certainly seen by God.

    • Note, Jesus not only saw all, but it says, and was moved with compassion. Our ways are not God’s ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). We see and shrug our shoulders in indifference, crossing over to the other side to avoid assisting those in need (Luke 10:25-37). But God sees and is moved with compassion to dress our wounds and mend our brokenness.

    • Jesus had compassion on the crowds because they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd.

    • There are three notable functions of a shepherd:

      • Lead the sheep out into the pasture and back into the sheepfold.

      • Feed the sheep by ensuring there is adequate food and water available.

      • Keep the sheep, which is to provide protection from predators and pestilence. The shepherd was to pay careful attention to each sheep as they entered the sheepfold for any signs of sickness, or to alert the shepherd of one that may have strayed from the herd.

  • Seeing the magnitude of this ministry, Jesus said to His disciples, the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few

    • How discouraged can we become if we compare our limited capacity with the enormity of God’s mission.

    • The harvest refers to the souls of men ripe for reaping. Like stalks of wheat waving in the field waiting to be gathered, so are the people within our lives ready to the good news of the gospel. All that is needed are men and women willing to be a sickle in the hands of a Savior, meet for the Master’s use (2 Timothy 2:21).

    • Sadly, laborers are in short supply. Jesus’ solution however is to urge the disciples to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into HIS vineyard. This is God’s vineyard; these are God’s people; this is God’s plan and this is God’s will. There is power in praying for God’s will to be done (1 John 5:14-15).

Application:

  • Willing workers see people the way God sees them and are moved with compassion to care for others.

  • Willing workers are mindful they are God’s hands and feet, living on mission with God.

  • Willing workers are dedicated to discovering their assignment and diligently doing their work.

  • Willing workers are committed to praying that God will send laborers into His vineyard.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You for seeing me during my times of distress and grief. Even when it felt like I was alone, You graciously sent one of Your servants to share the good news of the gospel with me. As a child of God, help me see what You see and feel what You feel. Break my heart for what breaks Your heart. Forgive me for being overly preoccupied with my interest, and help me prioritize Your plans over my agenda. Lead me to those with whom I can share the same love You shared with me. Teach me how to live on mission with You, so that I will be used by You to harvest souls. Send more laborers into Your vineyard Father, in Jesus name, amen.