Friday February 23, 2024
Matthew 9:36-38
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them . . . . 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.”
When Jesus saw the multitudes and their needs, He began at once to speak with His friends about that which met His eye.
There is something touching in the fact that Jesus communicated His thoughts and feelings to His lowly and imperfect earthly friends. As soon as Jesus saw something that cried out to His heart of compassion, He turned at once to one of His friends nearby to speak about that which He had seen.
But not all of the friends of Jesus are desirous of having such conversations with the Lord. They prefer very much to be edified, to hear something good about God, as they say. Both in secret and in fellowship with others.
But if Jesus comes and says: “Have you heard that he is ill? Have you heard that she is in poor circumstances now? Have you heard that I have not secured any of my friends to perform a certain task that I have in mind? Have you heard that they are in need of funds for the work that I bade them start?”—When Jesus begins to speak thus to them, many say that they do not have time to listen.
Others, however, rejoice when Jesus begins to speak to them about need and about the things for which He needs them. They are truly happy to have such quiet hours as these. For they feel how easy it is for them to be preoccupied with their own needs and to forget those of others.
When Jesus has spoken to them and they have once more gained a vision of the needs of others as seen by Jesus, they enter gladly into the work of the Lord again.
And as they go about their tasks they hum their favorite stanza:
“Thus in Thy service, Lord,
Till eventide
Closes the day of life,
May we abide . . .”
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD 
You must be logged in to post a comment.