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Many years ago, four months before harvest time, Jesus once told His disciples to lift up their eyes and look at the fields. He said to them, “The fields are ripe; it’s harvest time!”
In Luke 10:2 Jesus said, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (NKJV)
What are these fields Jesus is talking about? What is it that’s ripe? Who are the workers in the fields? In Jesus’ illustration, the fields are the world. The ripe grain is those who are ready to receive the good news of Jesus Christ.
Jesus is telling us that there are throngs of people whose hearts the Spirit of God has “ripened.” They are ready to enter the life of Jesus’ kingdom or eager to learn more about it. A “bumper crop” is due, but there’s a labor shortage.
Observing the busyness and self-sufficiency of society, you may wonder, “Where are these ripe fields Jesus is talking about?”
Lift up your eyes and look at the fields. The fields are ripe. It is harvest time. It’s a matter of finding the field and becoming an effective missionary for the Lord of the harvest.
“Many women commented on how comforting the poems and stories were from the booklet we received at Christmas. I personally work for the chaplain so I hear all the requests and appreciations that are passed around. Thank you, Loaves & Fishes.”
Lora Barranca • Women’s Prison in Chowchilla, CA
If you have trouble finding a ripened field, go to your local jail or almost any prison in the USA. You won’t have to look very long until you find a desire for friendship, a hunger for reality, and time to listen.
Our church has a weekly jail ministry in our local town. It is deeply encouraging to see such openness and hunger!
Have you ever shared Christ with someone only to see them walk off and literally (or figuratively) throw your message into a trash bin? In the free world many people are too busy or complacent to pay attention. In contrast, while many in prison also close their hearts, the demand for truth far exceeds the supply.
Tens of thousands of hungry people have asked us to speak into their lives with requests such as these:
Basically, they are saying, “Please speak into my life! Tell me something that can help me in my walk with God.”
Imagine the opportunities! Here is access to thousands of isolated people who will receive and appreciate what we teach them and share it with their friends! Some of these already profess to know God and seek to be disciples of Jesus Christ; others are still in darkness, searching for meaning in life. Behind many of these requests is a person who desires to get their life on the right track and become the person, leader, parent, or spouse that God wants them to be.
Let’s lift up our eyes and look at the fields. They are ripe and harvest time has come. Let’s be busy reaching out to the hungry souls in our local jails and prisons and use the massive opportunity we have to impact millions with the printed page.
For the ripened grain,
Lavern Gingerich
PS. Click here to learn how you can help us spread the good news of Jesus Christ in the prisons.
