“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.” John 4:34-36 (NIV)
For just a moment, let’s put aside our interests, our concerns, and our troubles. I know this is difficult, but let’s consider the Lord’s concerns. He focused himself, his interests, and his ministry on doing the will of the Father, who had sent him to take away the sins of the world. He never let troubles and sorrows distract him. He never let the cares of this life distract him. He refused to allow temptations to distract him. It seems that He even ignored physical fatigue at times.
His goal was focused . . . obey the Father’s will . . . complete the Father’s work. While Jesus was fatigued and needed rest, he didn’t let his physical comforts hinder an opportunity to rescue a lost soul. Just for a moment, consider what a difference it would make in our lives and ministries if we would be so focused.
This clear, intentional focus somehow gave the Lord a clarity of vision. He could see what the Father saw . . . a field of lost souls that were ready to be rescued. When he said, “open your eyes and look at the fields,” He was asking his disciples to re-focus their vision . . . see what He saw. What He saw was a community of lost souls seeking to be rescued. He wanted them to see it too! Remember, He had promised to make them “fishers of men.”
The Father’s crop was ripe for harvest. Jesus refused to procrastinate until some future fourth month date. The people were ready now to hear the Gospel of the Kingdom. He knew it was essential to act now, because later their desire for God would be destroyed by other interests . . . and consequently lost.
My friend and colleague, Bishop Sherman Allen recently challenged our church, “Are we going to wait until it is too late? The harvest is ripe and it will not wait. Now is the time to act in the name of Jesus!”
Dear Father, thank you for rescuing us from our helpless state. Help each of us to see the ripe field of people around us. Help us to share the Gospel of Christ. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today by people’s interest in Christ,