Born For This Time
For a truth when I taught public school I did radical things to get and keep students' attention. I was known to throw erasers and a few other things. No one charged me with being outside the ball park. No student ever reported me. My love for students was total. With a passion I was resolved to make English so exciting that I did not need to worry about students being late for class or skipping. Never had to report a single student to the office.
We often negotiated terms. I allowed students to vote and determine the course of study for the next month. It did not matter to me what chapter came next in the textbook. What mattered to me was that by the end of the year my students were ready for the next grade.
One day the Master was struggling to get His disciples to pay attention in class. They were struggling with historic issues and national pride. The Master asked them to look up and out and see a bunch of Samaritans coming down the road.
Remember the Jews thought Samaritans were low as "dogs."The Master had another opinion. He suggested to His disciples that the Samaritans were a harvest field of ripe grain ready to be reaped with heavenly dividends.
Yesterday Jesus took me into the harvest field. Brother John Mburu and two ladies accompanied me. First, we culturally were detoured to visit a Sudanese home. Africans insist that you have something to drink in their home...even if you take the drink with you. Our next stop was the home of Muslims who speak Arabic. Before we could reach their door a Liberian brother joined us and insisted that we visit his home. Leaving the Liberian home we encountered a gentleman who asked who we were. When I shared with him our intended visit with a family from Iraq he insisted that we also come to his home and have refreshments with him, his wife and son. He was a medical doctor in Iraq. After visiting with the Muslim family we greeted a dear lady from Nepal. In front of her home we met two more men just arrived from Iraq.
Three different families are scheduled to be picked up for English as Second Language class tonight taught by Christians with a Christian-based format.
I felt like I could hear Jesus saying: "Lift up your eyes and look on the harvest. It is ripe. People are hungry. Lonely. Frightened. Needy. Go quickly. Share what you have. Care for them. They are my children. Love them. Tell them about me. Tell them the simple message of Jesus.
One day Jesus had gone without food. The disciples were concerned for Him. Jesus said: "I have food to eat that you do not know about." Jesus was expressing the great energy that comes to us when we do His will and share the gospel with others."
Professionals are encouraging folks out of work to make themselves available as volunteers. It is therapeutic.
Volunteering builds self-esteem. Volunteering is OJB---on-the-job-training. Volunteering develops social skills. Volunteering defeats selfishness.
My hope is that those of you who are struggling financially, socially, and/or spiritually will take a look at the harvest field. Get out of your comfort zone. Take a look around you at folks who are in need. See the harvest. In some way find a simple way of sharing the love of Jesus that has changed your life.
One thing further, please pray for laborers for His harvest. A bus or van driver could be the means of many souls being saved. A little time given could turn a life around. Imagine those who will be in heaven because you cared, sacrificed, and gave your time and stewardship.
Much love,
Pastor Bare
"The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few..." Matthew 9:37