A Plentiful Harvest

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
Luke 10:1–12
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A Plentiful Harvest
The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. During Jesus’ day, when His disciples were first starting out, and the Gospel message of Christ crucified for all was still new to many it would seem natural that there would not be that many preachers to share the Good News. It would take time. But today, the harvest is still plentiful, and there is still a lack of laborers. For many, they become enamored with the teaching of the world and want nothing to do with Jesus and His Word. For others, they convince themselves that they are unworthy, too busy, or any myriad of excuses as to why they can’t tell others about Jesus. Yet the Holy Spirit never tires of calling you to share the Good News of Christ crucified for all. Having previously sent out the Twelve, Jesus now expands the breadth of His Gospel outreach by sending out Seventy-two more workers. Then like now, many people who hear of Jesus’ kingdom end up rejecting it. Much as we hate to admit it, we, too, have responded indifferently and, at times, have rejected God’s will for our lives. How heartening to know that Jesus continues to reach out with compassion through the Gospel ministry He has established. Jesus has called us to faith and hope in the Gospel; may He keep us steadfast in the same.