Harassed and Helpless

Recognising the mission field in front of us

Who do we focus on? What is God’s will? When we’re walking the Christian life, there is a desire to reflect the love of Christ. But how does one practically go about that? Where should our energy go?

I was asked to speak recently on the famous passage where Jesus says, “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 9:37-38 NIV).

What struck me in this passage was who Jesus focused on. The passage says that he had compassion on the crowds. They were “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (v.36 NIV). Shouldn’t this be where we start as well? Who in your circle is harassed and helpless, and how can you advocate for, support, or encourage them? Sometimes the needs around the world feel overwhelming, so we mentally step back and do not engage, but I love the approach that Henry Blackaby takes in his book Experiencing God. He encourages readers to “watch to see where God is working and join Him in His work.”

Take a minute to think. Who do you know who is vulnerable? Who needs help? Who is forgotten? That’s your mission field. You don’t have to travel to another country, although maybe God has placed a particular people or country on your heart. Lean into that. Maybe it’s a child with a rough home life who would appreciate being taken out for breakfast. Maybe it’s an elderly friend who rarely has any visitors. Maybe visiting a prison, a hospital, or a homeless shelter would be a good place to start.

The harvest is ripe. People are searching, and it is often a crisis that brings them to see their need for a Saviour. So, who can you help today as you go about your day? Sometimes being the hands and feet of Jesus is as simple as having a friend over for dinner or offering someone a cold glass of water. We may not see until eternity how we had an impact on God’s Kingdom, but we can commit to being faithful.