Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Matthew 9:37-38 NIV
When Bob Barker was host of The Price Is Right television game show, he always ended the program by reminding the viewers to have their pets spayed or neutered. He was concerned for animals and an active pet advocate.
Shelters are full of unwanted, lost and abandoned pets. Breeders breed their dogs and then abandon the mothers when they are no longer useful. People move and leave their dogs behind when they become inconvenient. Whatever the reasons, good or bad, there is an abundance of animals up for adoption and in danger of neglect. The harvest is plentiful and workers spend countless hours attending to the needs of animals in various capacities.
In Matthew Chapter 9, Jesus traveled by boat to his own town. As soon as he disembarked, people brought a paralyzed man to him. Jesus forgives his sins and heals him. He passes the IRS collection booth and sees Matthew. He tells him to follow and he obtains another disciple thus starting a debate between him and the Pharisees about his choice of companions.
Next, John’s disciples come to question Jesus about his stand on fasting. While he was teaching them, a church leader comes to tell Jesus that his daughter just died but if he would come and lay hands on her she would come back to life. Jesus starts out with the man but is interrupted by a lady who has been bleeding for twelve years. She touches his clothes and he feels power leave him and the woman is healed. Jesus finally makes it to the house and the crowd tells him to leave as it is too late to help the little girl. He puts them out of the house and takes the girl by the hand and she lives.
Jesus left there but was followed by two blind men asking for their sight. Jesus restores sight to the blind and while they were leaving a demon-possessed man who couldn’t talk was brought to him. He drove the demon out and the man could speak. The crowd was impressed but the Pharisees not so much.
Matthew 9:36 tells us that Jesus had compassion on the crowds of needy people. Our scripture today states that the harvest is great but the workers are few. Jesus had what the people needed and he met their needs. He got out of the boat and it was all in a day’s work.
The harvest is still plentiful today and Jesus still has what is needed. Many of us spend time on surveys that will tell us our gifts and talents. We wonder what we can do to help others. We pray and seek God’s will as we should.
Get out of the boat. Trust Jesus as you walk through your day. Each person you meet is an opportunity. You have what they need, Jesus in you.
Just Another Dog Devotion 