“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few, pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Luke 10:2

Jesus sent out seventy-two disciples to the towns “where he himself was about to come.”

Jesus sends these men out; knowing they are not enough for the job at hand. As these thirty-six pairs depart, he asks them to pray for more workers. The need for message bearers is critical.

I can’t imagine what these men must have felt, stepping out on a mission, knowing they were understaffed. If their numbers were so inadequate, why bother going in the first place?

But they were convinced because it was Jesus who sent them. And the Lord is telling them that they will be successful. There are so many people ready to hear about the coming of Jesus, they won’t be able to meet them all. This is what the business world calls a “Happy Problem.”

Just as in ancient times, the world continues to be hungry for the Good News. Two thousand years ago, Jesus depended on his disciples to get that word out. God is now asking you and me to announce the life of Christ to one another.

But there’s a hitch. Too many would-be disciples are looking around and deciding that God has called enough people to do his work. Seeing all the encouragers, writers, and volunteers, they decide that there isn’t a place for them. Why start doing what God has called them to do, if the world is full of these kinds of servants already?

And it doesn’t just apply to work in the church, or faith-based ministry. How many decide against studying to be teachers, nurses or business leaders because the news programs say there are too many? “Find something else,” they report. “You’ll never find work with that degree.”

It’s a good thing that Jesus’ disciples didn’t think that way. Whether it looked like there were too many to serve, or too many serving, circumstances did not sway his followers. They were called, and they went out in answer to that call.

We are those disciples now. Whatever you have been called to do, don’t be overwhelmed by the size of the task or how many workers are there already.

As Jesus says, the harvest is plentiful. There will always be someone who needs your hands; or to hear your voice, see your faith, and experience your wisdom.

At the end of the disciples mission, Luke’s Gospel says that they all “came back rejoicing.” The mission was a huge success. I don’t want to be left out of that party, do you?

So let’s agree to strap on our work boots and get out there in the fields of grain. There’s a harvest to bring in. So bring on those gifts that differ. It looks like a huge crop!

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Linking today with: Friday Finds at the Watered Soul