— DAY 9 —

Tuesday 11 February, 2025



THE FIELDS ARE RIPE FOR HARVEST

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE

John 4:31-38 (NLT)
Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But Jesus replied, “I have a kind of food you know nothing about.” 33 “Did someone bring him food while we were gone?” the disciples asked each other. 34 Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. 35 You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. 36 The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! 37 You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true. 38 I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.”


SCRIPTURE FOCUS


John 4:35 (NLT)
You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest.

 

COMMENT
I bet not one of the disciples expected Jesus to say all of this in that moment. I mean, all they were trying to do was get him to have something to eat, right! From that time onwards, I bet they thought twice before insisting he eat something. Can you imagine Peter sitting with Jesus at dinner time and saying, “Jesus eat…….(Um, pause)…….I mean…….(Um, pause), Jesus, would you……..would you like something to eat?………..(waiting in silence).” Hahaha!

But in that moment they were so focussed on the temporal that they missed what was right in front of them, the people in need of eternal life. In Jesus time I’m sure it didn’t feel like the fields were ripe for harvest. The Israelites were bound up in the law and religion and the region was under Roman occupation. The disciples clearly hadn’t captured it in their hearts, yet Jesus could see it plain as day.

Just like the disciples, we too can become so distracted by the temporal that we miss the people around us who desperately need Jesus. Just like in Jesus’ time, we can get the impression that people are closed, but the truth is right now the fields are ripe for harvest. In recent times in Western cultures the gap between the world and Christianity has widened even further as the world embraces more and more ungodly principals and we witness the decay of morality. People are genuinely searching for answers in a world that’s making less and less sense and is pushing them further and further into death and destruction. People are becoming increasingly more open now than ever to talk about the things of God.

In our materialistic culture that is full of distractions, let’s not be people that become so focussed on the temporal that we miss our mission, the work that God has for us, the people all around us that need Jesus. Make no mistake, right now the fields are ripe for harvest. Stepping out in faith into the work God has for us not only brings joy and nourishment to our spirit but also gives us an eternal focus.

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. In what ways are you active in the harvest?

  2. Do you find yourself distracted by the temporal?

  3. How mission focus would you say your life is?

 

MAIN QUESTION (SELF REFLECTION)

What is God speaking to you about in respect to your involvement in the harvest?


Encourage others by sharing your revelation in the group chat on Planning Center!
This is a self-reflection about what God is speaking directly to you about in YOUR life.
Words like “I” and “Me” are encouraged, “we” and “us” less so.

 

PERSONAL PRAYER STARTER
Lord, today my hearts desire is to be mission focused. Help me to see the opportunities I have to share the Gospel with those I come into contact with on a daily. In Jesus name.

 

14 DAYS OF PRAYER (Corporate Prayer)
Today we are praying for the CHURCHES OF OUR CITY (Rocky & Moura)
Possible prayer areas: That they might be filled to overflowing. Pray that God would draw people from the North, South, East & the West. Pray for their pastors and leaders.