A Ripe Harvest

A Ripe Harvest

Love. As so many of us are familiar with the “love chapter” in the Bible – I Corinthians 13 (NKJV) – we have an idea, at least on our wedding day, the importance and deep seeded meaning of love to our life. Love, in it’s truest essence, is the tie that binds.

1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body [a]to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Why is it we know and, seemingly, understand how important love is to our life, our faith and to our world but show little compassion for those around us? As Christians we should be a reflection of His Light, His Love and His Heart. Is that how we live? Do we anger at the person that pulled out in front of us on the roadway? Do we love those that are attacking our Liberties granted from God? Do we stand up, in love, and announce the feast in the midst of the battle? Is the valley so deep that love can’t make it to the bottom?

In Psalm 23:5 NKJV

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.

Do we actually live this way; do people actually believe these words or are they merely words on-a-screen?

The challenge we have, as believers, is getting out there among the unwanted, unwashed and unclean masses. We are to go boldly, in Jesus’ name, and reflect love as the equalizer, the healing ointment for our broken world. Why is this so difficult? Why is it that when I go to the Nashville Rescue Mission I am the only “outsider” during recovery service? Is it because there are no alcoholics or drug addicts in Nashville that have been saved, saved from death in the flesh? Are you kidding me! A city filled with musicians and seemingly none of them have suffered the ills of addiction nor can they find their way to the Rescue Mission to spread the Word?! Really?

Matthew 9 NKJV

35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”