Recently I was riding on a bus and God refreshed the burden in my heart for lost souls. It was not in the way I would have thought. We were riding along and my wife was taking a short nap as she does so much anymore when we are riding, and everyone else on the bus seemed to be in their own conversations. So there I sat looking out the window at the houses passing by, seeing all the different ways that people took care of their property, and thinking how it doesn't matter how much money one has…it's their attitude or priorities on how they live.
You see, some of these homes were run down and others were well cared for. Yet all were in the same neighborhood and, from the looks of the cars, the families had about the same income. It was interesting to see how some with so little could make such nice places with what they had while others didn't seem to care.
Then it happened I started to see the people and not their houses. I reflected on them and wondered if they were taking care of there lives in the same way that they were their houses? My heart was breaking and I started to cry, weeping for their souls and where they would spend eternity.
The bus kept going on our way to a day of fun, seemingly without a care. Those inside the houses were still talking, unconcerned with what was going on outside their windows. My first thought was, “That is how it seems today in a lot of churches.” But most of all I had to realize that the Lord was not talking to them; He was speaking to me and my heart. He was rekindling the burden in my heart and preparing me for this year.
In Matthew, chapter 9, verse 36, we are told, "But when he (Jesus) saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, the harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest." (KJV) In the New Living Translation it reads this way: "He felt great pity for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they didn't know where to go for help. They were like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, "The harvest is so great, but the workers
are so few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send out more workers for his fields."
That is my prayer today and everyday. Lord, you know we need more help in reaching people with the gospel. Please send more laborers to help us.
