Bible reading: John 4v34-42
‘I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest’….They said to the woman, ‘We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Saviour of the world.’ (v35&42)
Reflection: A man was travelling through the Arizona desert by train. He was the only person in the carriage not to pull down the window shades to keep out the glare of the hot sun on the parched earth. In contrast to the other passengers, he kept looking out of his window, and seemed to actually enjoy the dismal scene. After a while, the curious man sat across the aisle asked, “What do you see in that wasteland that makes you smile?”
“Oh, I’m in the irrigation business, and I was thinking if we could only get water to this land that is desert would become a garden!”
Is it time to check our vision to see if it’s really how Jesus sees situations and people?
In John 4, Jesus had just met with the woman at the well, told her the secrets of her heart and salvation poured out as living water – his gift; first to her, then through her as she brought her friends to Jesus. What a difference a day can make! He then talks to his disciples about the harvest fields being ready and his longing for workers to go out in the fields! Look, what do you see? Sometimes, even the image may seem overwhelming, though for Jesus that day, his heart of compassion was for the one he met, not the crowd on their way. What a difference a day makes!
As we pray for many to come to a saving relationship with Jesus, may we see as he sees. Knowing that the heart of the Father is that none should perish, may we find our hearts filled with his love for the ones God sets in front of us.
(Karen Porter – Beacon House of Prayer)
Give thanks for people becoming christians every day in our nation.
Prayer points:
for prodigals to return to God and people in our city encounter Jesus for the first time;
for unreached people in the nation to hear and respond to the gospel;
for Jesus to turn the secular tide in Europe and people’s deep spiritual hunger to be uncovered.