We’re still reaping the hardships of 2020. I never thought I’d see an entire world shut down—doors closed and locked—until COVID-19. The pandemic struck, and everything stopped. Folks wondered if they could pay their bills or even get food.
COVID’s panic spread as fast as the illness as people across the globe died by the droves, and nothing seemed to hold it at bay. Businesses closed, curfews were assigned, and people feared the worst.
As businesses reopened, the workers vanished. We’re unsure why. Was it a government handout, turned entitlement? Were workers afraid? Employees went from overabundance to nearly nothing. Where did they go, given that the needs of the many were still present—a harvest of sorts that needed laborers.
Jesus appointed and sent out followers two-by-two, into every town He was about to enter. He told them to pray for the Lord to send laborers into His harvest (Luke 10:2). He reminded them that the time of the harvest was ripe. There were souls to be saved, people to teach. Now was not the time to be idle. Work while they could because a time would come when they couldn’t. Jesus sensed the urgency of His earthly time coming to an end, and His compassion and the angst of His mission weighed heavily on Him.
The world has slowly begun to recover from COVID and its devastating effects, both physically and economically, but the harvest is still ripe. During COVID, churches heard Jesus’ call, and they found new, innovative ways to reach into a hurting world. Church services began to stream online through local venues and social media. From the smallest to the largest of congregations, new outlets were found, and new laborers reached out. The church left its buildings and entered the fields. The result was new believers and church growth. Not by leaps and bounds, but individual by individual.
Was it perfect? Probably not, but it was as if Jesus repeated His words again: The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray for the Lord to send laborers. The Church did, and God answered, but our work is not finished. When you hear the call to go out and labor on His behalf, answer. God sees and blesses every effort.
Cindy K. Sproles is a best-selling, award-winning author. She is a speaker and a conference teacher who teaches nationwide. Cindy is the cofounder of Christian Devotions Ministries, www.christiandevotions.us, and www.inspireafire.com. She serves as a writing mentor with WRAMS (Writing Write Author Mentoring Service) and is the director of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference. Visit Cindy at www.cindysproles.com.