March 12th, 2024
by Josh Franklin
by Josh Franklin
Adrian Rogers once saw a picture and an article that caught his attention from The Houston Chronicle. This picture, which was on the front page, showed a woman who had her ear on a man’s chest. The man was not her husband, nor was he her son, nor was he related to her in any way, and yet she had her ear on his chest. The reason was because the man that she had her ear up to his chest was a man who’d received a heart transplant, and the heart transplant that he had received was the heart of this woman’s son. She was listening to the heartbeat of her own son. Rogers shared this application with his audience, “When I saw that, I thought, ‘O my God, could You put Your ear to my chest and hear the heartbeat of Your Son?’”[1]
Matthew 9:36-38 shows the heartbeat of Jesus. It reads, “36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’”
When Jesus looks at this world, He has compassion for us. Men, women, boys, and girls need to hear about Jesus. Many churches and Christian organizations are striving to reach them. The real question is: What are you, personally, doing to be a part of God’s work in the world? I once heard a preacher share a simple but pointed statement: “Do something, lest you do nothing.” We all can do something.
I remember seeing my own dad’s heart for God’s work when I returned from a short-term international mission opportunity. When he was younger, he, too, had been on short-term mission trips. At this point, physical challenges caused him to need to stay close to medical care in the US. He couldn’t travel like he once did. I wanted to share with him some of the things that we did while we were there. I told him how we were distributing Bibles. We were sharing the Gospel. We encouraged the believers and churches. After I was done talking, he was lying on his back and he sincerely asked me, “Josh, next time you go, would you take me with you?”
I told him that I couldn't take him overseas because hospitals were not close by. He pressed further, “I won’t get in the way. Take me with you next time. I just want to help.” I told him that he just physically couldn’t right then. However, I told him that his passion and heart to be a part of God’s work in the world were a testimony to me and everyone who knew him. If he COULD go, he WOULD go.
What about those of us who can go or can take part in ministry opportunities. Some can teach the Bible. Some can love on babies, while their parents are in worship service. Some can tell boys and girls about Jesus. I know some cannot, and I would not want to heap guilt upon them. That’s part of the reason I wanted to share that story about my dad’s heart on full display.
However, there are those who can be engaged in God’s work but choose not to participate. We can list many reasons why we can’t right now:
There are local opportunities through your church's programs. Many can give financially to help spread God’s Word throughout the world. Some can go to different parts of the world, while others may not be able to. Perhaps you’re like my dad, who once did more, but now cannot. God understands, and yet, we can all pray for those who are in the work.
The real question we should ask ourselves is when God sees the laborers, and the great harvest – does He count you as one of His laborers? Let God’s compassion for lost humanity move us to the point where we say, “I can’t do everything, but I can do something.”
“Dear God, I want You to be able to hear the heartbeat of Your Son in my heart. I pray I see the lostness of humanity the same way Jesus does. I pray You can count me as one of Your laborers. I pray that You help me see the part I can play in getting Your mission done in this world. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
[1] Adrian Rogers, “When God Cleans House,” in Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive (Signal Hill, CA: Rogers Family Trust, 2017), Matthew 21:12–13.
Matthew 9:36-38 shows the heartbeat of Jesus. It reads, “36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’”
When Jesus looks at this world, He has compassion for us. Men, women, boys, and girls need to hear about Jesus. Many churches and Christian organizations are striving to reach them. The real question is: What are you, personally, doing to be a part of God’s work in the world? I once heard a preacher share a simple but pointed statement: “Do something, lest you do nothing.” We all can do something.
I remember seeing my own dad’s heart for God’s work when I returned from a short-term international mission opportunity. When he was younger, he, too, had been on short-term mission trips. At this point, physical challenges caused him to need to stay close to medical care in the US. He couldn’t travel like he once did. I wanted to share with him some of the things that we did while we were there. I told him how we were distributing Bibles. We were sharing the Gospel. We encouraged the believers and churches. After I was done talking, he was lying on his back and he sincerely asked me, “Josh, next time you go, would you take me with you?”
I told him that I couldn't take him overseas because hospitals were not close by. He pressed further, “I won’t get in the way. Take me with you next time. I just want to help.” I told him that he just physically couldn’t right then. However, I told him that his passion and heart to be a part of God’s work in the world were a testimony to me and everyone who knew him. If he COULD go, he WOULD go.
What about those of us who can go or can take part in ministry opportunities. Some can teach the Bible. Some can love on babies, while their parents are in worship service. Some can tell boys and girls about Jesus. I know some cannot, and I would not want to heap guilt upon them. That’s part of the reason I wanted to share that story about my dad’s heart on full display.
However, there are those who can be engaged in God’s work but choose not to participate. We can list many reasons why we can’t right now:
- “This is not the right time. Maybe in a few months, but not right now.”
- “Maybe if it was a different opportunity, but not that one.”
- “Maybe if someone else had asked me, but not that person.”
There are local opportunities through your church's programs. Many can give financially to help spread God’s Word throughout the world. Some can go to different parts of the world, while others may not be able to. Perhaps you’re like my dad, who once did more, but now cannot. God understands, and yet, we can all pray for those who are in the work.
The real question we should ask ourselves is when God sees the laborers, and the great harvest – does He count you as one of His laborers? Let God’s compassion for lost humanity move us to the point where we say, “I can’t do everything, but I can do something.”
“Dear God, I want You to be able to hear the heartbeat of Your Son in my heart. I pray I see the lostness of humanity the same way Jesus does. I pray You can count me as one of Your laborers. I pray that You help me see the part I can play in getting Your mission done in this world. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
[1] Adrian Rogers, “When God Cleans House,” in Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive (Signal Hill, CA: Rogers Family Trust, 2017), Matthew 21:12–13.
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