Some weeks all you get is bad news. Last week was one of them at our house. The final blow was a phone call from a friend saying her daughter was in jail. The family has been through a lot in the last year and I hurt for them. I hung up the phone and the tears escaped.Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. “What a huge harvest!” he said to his disciples. “How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!”
Matthew 9:36-38 (The Message)
There's so much pain in this world. So much uncertainty. So many opportunities to trust God. And the pain is not picky. It targets those who love God and those who don't. People everywhere need the love of God in their lives. They need to know He can sustain them. Yet I look at myself and all my weaknesses and wonder how I can possibly put a dent in helping others. What is a sympathetic friend to do?
We need to do it together. We need to pray for Christians to rise up and get out there. But even that overwhelms me. I'm a middle-aged homemaker. What can I do? What can you do? How do we make a difference in the lives of hurting people?
Do you know Jesus? Bring Him by.
Soothe others by bringing them into His presence in you. You don't have to have eloquent words or memorize an entire book of scripture. No fancy salvation speech is necessary. Your being there ushers them to the throne of God.
Bring Him by.
I don't have flashy counseling skills or know the right places to direct people or the ability to explain how God works, but I've got good ears and a strong shoulder and arms that know how to hug. I am a worker in the kingdom merely by showing up, exposing them to Almighty God in me.
Will you join me? Will you help with the harvest? Will you answer the call?
Bring Him by.
Visit our host MiPa, my favorite Brit, and see what others think about this passage at Miriam Pauline's Monologue.
Photo Credit: SLR Jester
6 comments:
Amen sis, amen.
Yes, this. This is what I've been trying to articulate since these verses jumped off the page at me. How do I, in my obscurity, take part in the harvest? Just bring him by. Beautifully articulated!
I'm sorry you had a rough week. Will be praying for you and for those in your life touched by pain this week.
I love this post Tami.
Wow Tami that was really powerful. What a wonderful way to put it. "Bring Him by" we are without excuse, we can do it and should. My heart aches for kids too that are choosing wrong paths and find themselves caught in the very trap they set for themselves by the choices they make. Adults are no better I'm sorry to say. I've sprung a few good traps on myself. Praise the Lord someone brought Jesus by in my life and introduced Him to me.
"Pain is not picky." Isn't that the truth!
"Bring Him by." Such beautiful words expressed here.
I so appreciate your gentle admonition to be the hands and feet of Christ to those around us. We can be workers when we "show up" and let Christ work through us.
Such beautiful words of truth here. It's always a blessing to read your blog.
Tami,
Such an on the mark post. And your words "the pain is not picky" really hit home.
Marsha Y.
Post a Comment