When you’re self-absorbed and focused on your own interests, it’s easy to overlook people in need and show no concern. But when you commit your life to Christ and decide to follow in His footsteps, that changes. ‘But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest”’ (vv. 36-38 NKJV). The heart of Jesus was moved by people who were ‘weary’. The stresses of life had worn them down and the burdens they carried were heavy. He was also moved by people who seemed ‘scattered’. People with no direction, no focus, no purpose for living. How many of these people were there? ‘Multitudes.’ What was Christ’s response? Because the need was so great, He told His disciples to pray that God would ‘send out labourers into His harvest’. Note the word ‘harvest’. You only get so much time to gather in a harvest, otherwise you lose it. Don’t miss the point Jesus is making, or the urgency in it. You are being called to show compassion towards those around you who are weary and scattered, and to take every opportunity to bring them to Jesus. A man who couldn’t walk sat begging at the temple gates. Day after day the crowd walked by, but not Peter and John (see Acts 3:1-10). When you’re suddenly moved by a need you have walked past many times before, God is telling you to get involved and do something about it.
