September - 3
A HARVEST MINDSET
“I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” John 4:35
In most areas of our country where fields were seeded in the spring, crops are ready for harvest. Farmers plan for a whole year to bring in the harvest. They prepare the machinery during winter, plant seed in the spring, and cultivate and irrigate, if necessary, in the summer. It’s a busy time, but it’s all for one purpose: to bring in a bountiful harvest. When the crops are ready, all other work on the farm that could be done is not nearly as important as getting the harvest in. It’s the number-one priority.
Jesus often used that picture to describe the urgency and importance of helping to bring believers into God’s kingdom. By starting with a casual conversation at a well and recognizing a truly deep need, Jesus brought living water into the life of a Samaritan woman. And because of the responses of the woman and of many others from her town, Jesus stayed two days, and “many more became believers.”
The disciples needed to have their vision corrected. They thought they had lots of time to look for the harvest. But this wasn’t just something to do when they “got around to it.” The Bible is clear about the importance of the mission and our involvement in it. In your work, at school, or in your neighborhood, where do you see the harvest? What will you do? When will you start?
PRAYER
Father, forgive us when we lose sight of the harvest. Forgive us for having misguided priorities. Give us courage today to walk through doors you will open for us. Amen.
在美国，大部分在春天播了种的田地，现在已是时候收割了。农夫们费了整年的时间计划收获庄稼；他们在冬天准备好机器，在春天播种，若有需要，他们在夏天培育和灌溉。这是一个忙碌的季节，而目标只有一个：收获丰硕的庄稼。庄稼成熟时，农庄任何其它的工作都显得不那么重要了，收割才是首要的。
耶稣时常用以上这幅图画，来形容带领信徒进入神国的逼切和重要性。借着井旁的闲谈和看到人真正的需要，耶稣将活水带进一个撒玛利亚妇人的生命。而因着这妇人和城中很多人热情的反应，耶稣在城中逗留了两天，结果是「信的人就更多了。」
门徒需要矫正他们的视力，他们以为找寻庄稼的时机多着呢。可是，收获不是一件「有时间才去做」的事。圣经清楚指出，这个使命和我们的参与是非常重要的。在你工作的地方、学校、或居住的附近，你在哪里看到庄稼了？你准备采取甚么行动呢？而你又打算何时开始呢？
祷告
父啊，求祢赦免我们忽视了庄稼，又求祢赦免我们颠倒了事情的主次。今天求祢赐我们勇气，好叫我们能进入祢为我们打开的门。阿们。