Harvest Time (Sept. 22)

“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, that His ways may be known on earth, His salvation among all nations.” (Psalm 67:1-2)

“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’ ” (Matthew 9:35-38)

“Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” (John 4:35)

Gracious God, Heavenly Father, and Lord of the harvest, as we move into the beauty of autumn, we thank you for loving us with a perfect love. You have blessed us abundantly, O God. With grateful hearts, we pray that you will make your salvation known among the nations through us. Thank you that you have sent us out — and that you have brought the world to our doorstep. Work through us, we pray, in our offices and neighborhoods, in our families and communities, in our day-to-day encounters. We go forth in your name, and in your power, to bring the hope of Jesus to the hurting, the lonely, the lost, the “harassed and helpless.” Let us be part of your reaping of a great harvest of souls that are destined to come fully alive in you. Amen.