"Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." John 4:35

He lived in Capernaum and worked for the Romans. It was taken for granted that he would steal from the locals by overcharging them on their taxes. Not exactly the kind one would expect Jesus to recruit for work in His harvest field.

Matthew sat at his tax collector’s booth when Jesus walked by. “Follow Me,” Jesus commanded, right out of the blue. "And Matthew got up and followed" (Matthew 9:9). The call of Jesus changed Matthew. He never returned to his booth or profession. Starting right then and there, he followed Christ and spent his whole life spreading the Gospel of God’s love.

God has called us through His Word and Baptism. He has heard us pray for workers to be sent into His harvest field. He answers our prayers with a simple “Go.” Our Lord is acutely conscious of souls who wait to hear the Gospel from us. Surely if He can use Matthew, He can use you. He changes the hearts of the corrupt, strengthens those who are fearful, and speaks through the mouths of the shy. He has chosen you. He will radiate His glory through what you do and lead you to those who are ready to be “harvested” for His Kingdom.

PRAYER: Father, lead me to be an eager witness and to go joyfully into Your harvest field; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

(Devotions from “The Abundant Life” copyright 1998, CPH. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. Permission is granted for one-time e-mailing of this link to a friend. For information on other devotional material, please contact CPH at 800-325-3040 or visit CPH at www.cph.org.)

Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 17, 19    John 9:24-41

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