Laborers for the Harvest 

By: Greg Mohr

March 2023

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 laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” 

Matthew 9:36–38, New King James Version  

Jesus’ response toward masses of people who were yet unreached and without shepherds or mentors to disciple them was threefold: 

  1. Compassion—Later in this gospel, Matthew tells us Jesus was moved with compassion (Matt. 14:14). What group of people has the Spirit moved your heart with compassion for? What hurts or needs in people are you most passionate about meeting? Follow your inward passion and compassion toward people, and you will become a more effective instrument of harvest. 
  1. Prayer—Pray for laborers to respond to His call into the harvest. Pray for the right laborers in the right place. Pray for laborers to be sent into other’s families and fields of ministry and not just your own. Pray for laborers who will speak the truth in love! 
  1. Delegation—In Matthew 10:1, Jesus sent out the twelve and then later sent seventy more into the harvest. In order to reap the harvest of souls God has called us to reach, we must train and release people to reach out to the lost and unchurched. It is also essential that each of us accept the mandate to mentor them. In 1 Corinthians 3:5, Paul tells us, “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom you believed, even as the Lord gave to every man” (NKJV).This is a powerful promise I have claimed for each of my family members and friends who need the Lord. God has provided ministers to every man by whom they will believe. That is how I pray for my unchurched family and friends: “Father send ministers to them—laborers—that you have prepared and provided for them by whom they may believe.” Then I go one step further and make myself available to be that laborer and minister who will reach another’s family members. 

Make yourself available to follow compassion, pray for laborers, and be available to train laborers. Be a laborer who is an answer to someone else’s prayers to reap the harvest of souls that is ripe in Jesus’ name!