As we enter a new season, the Lord wants us to look up and to open our eyes to the harvest.
Our Saviour came into this world at the most difficult time for the people of Israel. They were under Roman occupation and expected a great deliverer. They were oblivious to who was in their midst. Likewise, while we have challenging times, the purposes of God are not restricted by prevailing circumstances.
The last thing on the disciples’ minds when passing through Samaria in John 4, was harvest. All they could think about was where they would get the next meal. Jesus’ reply to their question about food was “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work”.
Jesus challenged His disciples to wake up and look around, the fields were already ripe unto harvest. He wanted them to have a new view of the readiness of the harvest. There was a harvest field right in front of them, where they had not sown but could reap. The villagers had responded to the personal testimony of the Samaritan woman. She had met the Messiah, and now they came to see for themselves. His compassionate messiahship was not limited to Israel, He is also the Messiah of the whole world.
In the same way we need to fulfil our calling with confidence because He is the Lord of the harvest. He wants us to look up and participate in the great ingathering of the harvest. We are not spectators when it comes to harvest. He sends us to the distressed, sick, and orphaned world:
Firstly, there is an urgency to pray for laborers, there is a great harvest.
Secondly, Jesus passes on the authority He received from the Father, which we witness so powerfully at work in the book of Acts.
Thirdly, the Holy Spirit is actively directing us to the ripe harvest at the right time. Our mission is not restricted by time or location.
If we are to achieve this great harvest for God, the power of the Holy Spirit and the commission of Jesus work together to complete His purposes.
As in Revelation 7:9, John witnessed, “After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands.”