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DAY 6: The Praying Missionary
Missions Conference 2010 Devotional | View the Entire Devotional Series
So have you been thinking any more about that huge number we laid out on Sunday? Do you remember it? 6.8 billion people. 6,800,000,000 souls.
READ MATTHEW 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.” – Matthew 9:35-38
Matthew tells us that when Jesus saw the crowds he had compassion on them. When you think of the 6,800,000,000 souls on the earth today, does it stir your heart towards compassion? It should. Every one of those souls will cross into eternity one day, some to eternal blessing, but most to eternal damnation. It creates a pit in my stomach just to write that…
As Jesus looked out over the crowds he felt deep compassion for them. He saw a hurting, harassed, lost world in need of rescue. He viewed it like a field of crops, ripe and ready, waiting for harvest. All that was needed were workers to go out and bring it in.
We live in a waiting world, ready for harvest. Jesus tells us that we should “ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Are you willing to be a praying missionary? Here’s a few ways you might commit this week to becoming a praying missionary:
- Pray for God to send out workers into his harvest field.
A praying missionary is committed to praying that God would send out workers to serve in ministry fulfill his mission. You could pray this for our church. As we grow and God gives us greater opportunity for ministry, we need workers willing and ready to serve. Pray that God would send out workers all around the world, and even in and among our church body. Just be attentive to the fact that one of those workers could be you!
- Pray for the missionaries we support.
Did you know we have a ministry at Wawasee BIble that is dedicated to simply praying for our missionaries? It’s called “GPS” (Global Prayer Squad). You simply take one day each month (your day might be the 15th), and every month on that day you commit to praying for our missionaries. We’ll even provide you with a guide on what and how to pray for them.
- Pray for others.
One very simple and very practical way you could work towards becoming a praying missionary is by signing up to be on our email prayer chain. Several times each week prayer requests are emailed out from the church office to people committed to praying for God’s will in the life of others. You could also do this by taking home your Message Notes bulletin insert each week. On the back is a prayer guide. Simply stick it in your bible and pull it out during the week and pray for the requests listed on it.
Journaling Questions
- Jesus felt compassion when he looked out over the crowds of his day. What “crowds” of people (big or small) do you come in contact with each week? Does your heart stir with compassion for them? Why or why not? Write about it.
- Jesus said “the workers are few” for a harvest that is plentiful. How have you responded (positively or negatively) to God’s call for you to go out into the field and serve in ministry? Are you in the field purposefully doing ministry? Or are you just watching others do it all?
- How could you become a “praying missionary”? List out some thoughts. Be specific, no general stuff like “I could pray for people.” Be specific – who? What would/could you pray for? What specific steps could you take to become a praying missionary?