Wednesday's Word
Today's word is my response to yesterday's toss-up. Today's word is "laborer."
Actual meaning: someone who works with their hands; someone engaged in manual labor
Meaning to me: One who is active in the work of the Lord
Let's take a look back at those verses we read from Matthew chapter 9 yesterday:
36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Jesus was talking to His disciples about the need for labourers. There are multitudes of people out there who are walking around like a sheep with no shepherd. If you read this post by kpjara yesterday, you saw that a sheep must be guided to their food or their water source. They will never find it on their own.
That's what Jesus is saying. We are to be like shepherds to this world. We are to go out and find those lost sheep. If we don't find them, Satan will, and he will lead them to watering holes like drugs and alcohol.
The thing is that many don't want to be a worker for the Lord. Many just want to enjoy His blessings and ignore the things that need to be done.
I can't count the number of churches I've been to where the pastor does everything. The pastor leads the music, the pastor plays the piano, the pastor drives the church van, the pastor goes out on visitation, the pastor sits with people at the hospital. Sure a pastor should do some of this, but it isn't just his job. His job is to preach and teach so that we might grow in Christ and be called into a work of our own.
It isn't enough to sit on a church pew and enjoy a sermon. There is a great work. A work that Jesus had a heart for. As I said earlier in the week, we are to have a heart like Christ. A heart that cares for the lost, wandering souls in this world.
So I challenge you today to work. Get off the pew and become a laborer for Christ!
posted by Heather Smith @ Wednesday, June 14, 2006
5 Comments:
Great challenge. So many of us come to enjoy the service, socialize, then go home.
Excellent! "We are to be like shepherds to this world." Yeah, and like a shepherd to his sheep, we are to be loving, caring, kind, gentle, and at times, even carrying the little lambs...
Great food for thought, Heather!
I hope you are one of your church's elders! You are so wise! What a great challenge to all Christians.
Diane
Amen!
Heather
You are so right. How often we come to church as a habit, and not to worship. I see the same thing you do as we travel to different churchs to sing. Going to church is a privledge that God gives us and we take it for granted. I want to get out there more and bring the precious lost and hurting to Christ.
Thank you again for reminding us that we are called to minister to the world, and that is not just for the pastor for for all who have been saved by Gods grace.
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