Should we pray to Jesus for what kind of workers (Mat 9:38)?

[Leonardo Von]

Should we pray to Jesus for what kind of workers (Mat 9:38)?

•    Mat 9:35-38 -> “And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”.

Until yesterday (01-05-2022 - during more than 27 years), I had a different vision about this verse. I always focused on heavy works, as plowing, watering, sowing, manuring, exterminating the plagues. Nonetheless, all these works are done by the Holy Spirit. Our role is reap.

See the following parable:

•    Mat 22:2-4 -> “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’ 

Note that everything was prepared and Jesus said in the cross: “it is finished” (John 19:30). 

So, our role isn’t to try to convince people to follow and obey Jesus (this is work of the Holy Spirit – John 16:8). Our role is welcome Jesus when He knocks in our door through people that He brings to us (Rev 3:20), and comply with John said:

•    1Jn 1:1,3 -> “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.”.

Recall that Jesus said that it is He who, in person, will edify the Church (Mat 16:18). And we see, in Acts 2, Jesus doing this:

•    Act 2:47 -> “praising God and having favor with all the people. *And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved* .”.

The order to preach the gospel to every creature (Mat 28:19,20; Mark 16:15) isn’t a specific task to be done for a few people as a job, but a ministry to be lived everywhere, in all the time, for everyone who really believes in Jesus during all their activities in this world.

So, have a good day reaping the souls that Jesus brings to you so that the body of Christ in you can be perfect and full of the Holy Spirit for His glory (Eph 4:15,16; 2Cor 3:1-3).