By Not Known
The Lord says to His disciples in John 4:35, “Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.” These words nailed home the lessons Jesus wanted His disciples to learn from the example He set for them.
It was the most usual day for the disciples. They were famished, looking forward to their next meal when Jesus approached a Samaritan woman at the well. The Jews looked upon the Samaritans as unclean. They had no dealing with them. But Jesus not only chose to pass through the Samaritan town, He stopped by to speak to this woman, regardless that she had not one but five husbands. Jesus was immediately aware of her plight and sensitive to her pains. He revealed Himself to her. By simply asking her for help, He eventually opened a door into her life.
The long and short of it was that this woman became the key to many hearts in this Samaritan village. Through her testimony, John 4:39 says many believed in Him. She opened the door not only for Jesus to come into her life, but for Jesus to come into her village. Because of her verse 41 said, “And many more believed.”
This spiritual awakening in the village happened because the Lord Jesus was sensitive to God’s leading. His food was to do the will of the Father. Jesus’ focus was the Father’s mission, the lost and the hungry. His disciples, on the other hand, were more concerned about the physical, about satisfying their own needs. The disciples disassociated themselves from this woman, while the Lord Jesus ministered to her deepest needs.
There are many lessons we can draw from this story. However, we must not miss the Lord’s will given to us in verse 35, “lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.” Pay attention to what God is doing. He has prepared a harvest. He invites us to co-labour with Him.
This is also the message from the Celebration of Hope. Yet four months and a nation-wide Gospel rally will happen. But we must not wait for the four months to pass us by. The harvest is now. Let us be sensitive to the Lord’s leading, to where He sends us, to who He brings us, so that we may be used to reach someone who will reach someone. Let us endeavour to do the will of Him who sent us. Let us be a part of His harvest force. Hear the call to evangelise our nation. For the harvest begins now, where we are.