I am continuing my study of the word “send” and am at a passage I have studied before. In the margins I have written, “Pray to be sent not just for God to send”. As I look at the verses again, I see what I was referring to.
“37Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’” — Matthew 9:37-38 (ESV)
I see here that we should definitely be praying for God to send out someone to tend to the needs of others, bring the glory of God to others, and provide for those that may not be able to provide for themselves. I see that there is plenty work to be done and as Jesus says in verse 37, “the laborers are few” indicating that there is a short supply of His followers doing the work.
I know that there are those that are constantly doing the work of God in the lives of those in need, but I will also say that I know that list is a short one compared to the population of those who follow Christ. Now I do not want to presume that there are those that simply proclaim Christ for the visual effect of its value, but I do know, as Jesus indicated in verse 37, there is a shortage of those that are doing the work.
I have to take the approach to pray for the Lord to work in the lives and hearts of everyone and in that work will compel them to go out and do the work needed to bring salvation to all. I have to also be listening to hear God as I am sure that He has instructions for me just as He has instructions of others. I have to pray for God to send and for me to be sent.
What are you praying for in relation to the action of sending or being sent? Are you looking for God to simply send someone to take care of things? What if you did, and then also prayed that God would send you into the field to do the work as well?
Trevor's Thoughts 