Day 11: Matthew 9:18-38
Today's evening devotion is Matthew 9:18-38, which basically documents Jesus performing many signs or miracles, including one instance of raising the dead.
Since the context is that Jesus had just seen the crowds, I feel that the harvest being plentiful refers to the sheer number of people in need of salvation. And then, the laborers being few is really referring to the lack of faithful disciples to spread the word of God and bring all sinners to repentance.
The Harvest Is Plentiful, the Laborers Few
Does it make sense to say that I'm at once impressed and unimpressed by the miracles Jesus performed? Impressed because no one but Jesus could have accomplished them; and unimpressed because with Jesus miracles are the norm and the expectation.
So, for me the passage that stood out the most in today's evening devotion was Jesus's comment that there are not enough "laborers" for the "harvest".
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.” (Matthew 9:36-38 ESV)
Since the context is that Jesus had just seen the crowds, I feel that the harvest being plentiful refers to the sheer number of people in need of salvation. And then, the laborers being few is really referring to the lack of faithful disciples to spread the word of God and bring all sinners to repentance.