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A Call To Compassion And Action

Monday, November 25



Matthew 9:35-38 (ESV)
“And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Devotion
In these verses, we see Jesus' heart for the lost and broken of the world. As He travels through towns and villages, He encounters crowds of people—hurting, lost, and desperately needing hope. What catches our attention is not only the sheer number of people in need, but Jesus' response to them. He is moved with compassion.

1. Jesus' Compassionate Heart

Jesus did not just observe the suffering; He felt it. The word "compassion" here comes from the Greek word splagchnizomai, which means to be moved in one’s innermost being. Jesus was deeply troubled by the harassed and helpless state of the people, like sheep without a shepherd. This image of sheep without a shepherd reveals a tragic truth: without guidance, protection, and care, the people were vulnerable to harm, deception, and despair.

Jesus didn’t just see the physical needs of the people—He saw their spiritual emptiness and their desperate need for guidance and healing. His compassion drove Him to act, not with mere sympathy, but with an invitation to change their lives forever.

2. A Vision for the Harvest

Jesus then turns to His disciples and speaks of a harvest. He tells them, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few." This is a vivid metaphor. A harvest is the culmination of a long process—seeds planted, nurtured, and grown to maturity. Similarly, in the spiritual sense, there are people who have been primed for the message of the Gospel, but there are not enough workers to bring in the harvest.

In Jesus’ time, the harvest was both ripe and urgent. People were ready for the message of hope, but there were not enough workers to meet the need. The challenge is just as urgent today. The world around us is full of individuals who, like the crowds in Jesus’ day, are harassed and helpless, looking for hope, meaning, and direction.

3. The Call to Prayer and Action

In the face of this overwhelming need, Jesus calls His disciples to action—begin by praying. "Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field." Prayer is not passive—it is the first step in seeing the harvest reached. It shifts our focus from the daunting task to the source of all power and provision: God Himself. Only He can raise up the workers needed for His kingdom.

But prayer is not just about asking; it is about aligning our hearts with God's heart. When we pray for the harvest, we are not only petitioning for others, but we are also inviting God to stir within us the same compassion that He had. We begin to see people the way He sees them, and that compassion moves us to action.

After all, Jesus' instruction doesn't end with prayer alone. In the very next chapter (Matthew 10), He sends out the twelve disciples, empowering them to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, and drive out demons. Our prayer for workers should lead us to become part of the answer—each of us is called to be a laborer in the field of God's kingdom.

4. A Personal Challenge

This passage is a call to look beyond our own immediate concerns and see the world with God’s eyes. It challenges us to ask ourselves:

  • How do I view the crowds around me—do I see them with compassion, or do I overlook their pain?
  • Am I willing to be a worker in God’s harvest field, or do I think someone else will do the work?
God is not looking for perfect workers, but for willing hearts—people who will let His compassion move them into action. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few, and that means each of us has a role to play.

Today’s Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for seeing us in our brokenness and having compassion on us. You are the Good Shepherd, and You laid down Your life for us. Help us to see the world through Your eyes, to feel the pain of those who are lost, and to be moved to action. Stir our hearts to pray earnestly for workers, and more than that, make us willing to be part of the solution. Empower us to be faithful laborers in Your harvest field, bringing Your love and hope to a hurting world. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Apply It Today

Aren’t the words Jesus chose interesting? Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers. Jesus did not say wait for the harvest to come to church. What is one way you can increase your public testimony for Jesus or your activity outside the church to help others come to repentance and salvation in Jesus?

Resources:

  • Watch the message, “Can Jesus Use Me,” and be encouraged in knowing that you are a qualified vessel whom the Lord delights to use at such a time as this. 
  • Check out our Serve Teams link, to learn about opportunities to serve at a Free Chapel location near you and online.