Today’s scripture: Matthew 9:35-38 (ESV-text and audio) (KJV) (The Message) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Mark Shoup):
Ice Wine, or Eiswein as it is more properly called, is a type of wine made from pressing grapes only after they have first frozen on the vine. The water content of the grape freezes, but the dissolved solids and sugars do not, so that when pressed and fermented, the result is a very small amount of extremely rich and expensive wine. The cheapest Eiswein I have ever had was around $40.00 a bottle, and was worth every penny!
Because of the precarious conditions that must be met before Eiswein can be harvested, often many years will go by before the vineyard receives just the right cold snap at just the right time. Even then, the grapes must be picked before the temperature rises and they thaw, most often in the middle of the night before the sun rises. Historically, on those rare occasions when these conditions were met, the wine maker would send word to all his neighbors, who would descend en masse to help bring the harvest in before it was spoiled.
This is the metaphor I see in my head when 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.” There is always a sense of urgency when harvesting, and I think Jesus would not have used those words if time were not of the essence.
But why the rush? Couldn’t they just minister to the really sick and the really old, and then wait on the rest until a more convenient time? Aren’t people more receptive to salvation when they are on their deathbed, anyway?
This author’s cynicism aside, Jesus does sure seem to be in a hurry about this, and it makes me wonder why. I myself think it is the viral nature of Jesus’ charismatic effect on the people he spoke to and who heard about him through others. Perhaps never before had they had so much hope and optimism, especially if Jesus had healed them or one of their loved ones. Maybe the focus was to reach these people while they were still open, and before life had a chance to beat them down again to a point where they wouldn’t be as receptive.
I would imagine that for the most jaded and hardened individuals, opportunities where they are open to the Word of God, and when they might take it to heart are relatively rare. How sad if one of those times occurs, and nobody is there to spread the good news!
Thought for the day: Will you be ready to step in and help with the harvest when the time is ripe?
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.