How would you feel if Jesus Himself walked into the room and said, “I have a prayer request”? If He asked you to ask for something would you ask? Well, the fact of the matter is that He has made such a request. It’s recorded in Matt. 9:38– “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” And I might add–He is in the room with you, whether you sense His presence or not.

Notice, Who made this request. It is a prayer request from Jesus– the One whose judgements are always correct, motives are always pure, words are always true, demands are always righteous, will is always right, ways are always best. How can you deny Him?

Notice, What the request is for — “pray”. He didn’t ask for any personal comforts or luxuries. He didn’t ask them to marshal an army to overthrow the heathen government, or to protest the injustices of the day, nor to seek the advice of the “experts” to solve their problems, nor to construct a beautiful cathedral with stained- glass windows, or to grow the biggest church in town. He simply asked them to “pray”.

Notice, Why the request was made–“therefore”
— “The harvest truly is plenteous“. Indeed it was, and it is even more so today. There are over 7 billion people in the world today and only a handful are saved. There are about 24,000 people groups in the world, each with their own language, culture, and customs. Many of these do not have the entire Bible in their own language. Should that not concern us?
— “but the labourers are few“. This is true for several reasons— we are in the minority, we are sometimes lazy, we often have the wrong priorities, conflicts within our ranks, pluralism (the belief that one religion is as good as another). But, whatever the cause, we ought to pray. We should consider the Lord’s request as a command, and obey Him. Will you grant His request? Will you obey His command? Will you do as He directs? Will you “pray”? Will you pray faithfully, frequently, and fervently? Those who ignore His request might be ignored when they make their request. Sin hinders prayer. If you’re not willing to pray as He directs you cannot expect Him to hear you when you pray for what you desire. If this doesn’t move you to pray what would? When is the last time you asked God to call men from your congregation to preach? Never? Really? Why? Those who refuse to pray are admitting that they are unconcerned about the deepest needs of others and the desire of the Lord they profess to follow. Think about it!

Getting a good start is important in anything we do. To live well throughout the week we need to give due diligence to the Lord’s day. It serves as a spring broad to propel us through the difficult days ahead. J. R. Miller wrote:“The influence of the Sunday, like a precious perfume, should pervade all the days of the week. Its spirit of holiness and reverence should flow down into all the paths of the other days. Its voices of hope and joy should become inspirations in all our cares and toils in the outside world. Its teaching should be the guide of hand and foot in the midst of all trial and temptation. Its words of comfort should be as lamps shining in the sick room and in the chambers of sorrow. Its visions of spiritual beauty should be translated into reality in conduct, disposition, and character.

A well spent Sunday is an excellent preparation for a week amid cares and struggles. There is blessing in the Sunday rest. We cannot go on forever; we must pause here and there to renew our strength.

True Sunday rest, however, is not merely the cessation of all effort, the dropping of all work. As far as possible, we should seek to be freed from the common tasks of the other days. Happy is he who can leave behind him, on Saturday night, all his weekday affairs, to enjoy a Sunday in heavenly places, as it were, engaged with thoughts and occupations altogether different from those of the busy week. This even alone, gives rest.

As for the Sunday itself, it should be a day for the uplifting of the whole life. A tourist among the Alps tells of climbing one of the mountains in a dense and dripping mist, until at length he passed through the clouds, and stood on a lofty peak in the clear sunlight. Beneath him lay the fog, like a waveless sea of white vapor; and, as he listened, he could hear the sounds of labor, the lowing of the cattle, and the peals of the village bells, coming up from the valleys below. As he stood there, he saw a bird fly up out of the mists, soar about for a little while, and then dart down again and disappear.

What those moments of sunshine were to the bird, coming up out of the cloud, the Sunday should be to us. During weekdays we live down in the low valleys of life, amid the mists. Life is not easy for us; it is full of struggle and burden-bearing. Then Sunday comes; and we fly up out of the low climates of care, toil, and tears—and spend one day in the pure, sweet air of God’s love and peace. There we have new visions of beauty. We get near to the heart of Christ, into the warmth of His love. We come into the goodly fellowship of Christian people, and get fresh inspiration from the contact.

Thus we are lifted up for one day out of the atmosphere of earthliness, into a region of peace, calm, and quiet! We see all things more plainly in the unclouded sky; and we are prepared to being another week with new views of duty, under the influence of fresh motives, and with our life-fountains refilled. Thus the Sunday rest prepares us for the world and the struggle of the other days. We learn new lessons, which we are to live out in the common experience of the life before us. We see the patterns of heavenly things—as we read our Bible, and bow before God in prayer; and we are to go down from the holy mount—to weave the fashion of these patterns into the fabric of our character. We should be better, truer-souled, and richer-hearted all the week—because of the Sunday inspirations. We should carry the holy impressions, the sacred influences, in our heart as we go out into the world, singing the songs of heaven amid earth’s clatter and noise. True Sunday-keeping makes us ready for true weekday-living.” Think about it!

Fall, my favorite time of the year, is almost here. For those who enjoy hunting this gets their blood to pumping. Whether it’s doves, ducks, or deer, when the season rolls around hunters get excited, or as some would say–“Happy, happy, happy”! While others care nothing about this sport, there is one type of hunting that just about everyone engages in, and its season is always open. I’m talking about the hunt for happiness.

Some people will do anything if they think it will make them happy. They will live at break neck speed, pursue every pleasure, spend every penny, explore every avenue, violate any rule, and abuse any relationship, if they think they can bag their limit of happiness. Strangely enough they never limit-out. It’s all hunting and no finding. But, they never give up. As strange as it might seem, they make themselves miserable trying to make themselves happy. Yet they keep hunting.

It should be obvious by now that absolutely nothing can make some people happy. The very fact that they never quit hunting happiness proves my point. What they don’t understand is that happiness never comes as a result of pursuing it. That’s getting the cart before the horse. Happiness is something that comes to us, not something we can go get. No amount of effort can produce happiness. We often speak about happiness being a choice, and there is some truth to that, but not in the sense that most people think. Strong resolve or even bulldog tenacity alone is never enough. The “choice” that brings happiness is the choice to surrender ourselves lock-stock-and -barrel to the Lord — to do our best to bring Him pleasure.

The happiest, most contented, satisfied people on earth are those who are fully committed to pleasing God rather than self. And that’s the way it works for everyone. Many have wasted their lives hunting happiness without ever finding it. But the moment you stop hunting it and start seeking the will of God happiness comes to you. The man who said,”I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content”( Phil. 4:11), first said, “For to me to live is Christ”(Phil. 1:21). Only those who seek to please God will ever be pleased with life. So, when you set out to bag that ten-point buck, or limit-out on some other game, I wish you well–but, please don’t think it will bring you lasting happiness. That comes only by seeking to please God. Think about it!

As often is the case, something wasn’t going exactly as I had planned and I was starting to get a bit perturbed. However, just as I was reaching the “boiling point”, all of a sudden I thought of something I had read earlier in the morning. The article spoke of the more than 4 million displaced people in Syria and the 2 million refugees fleeing the conflict— more than half of them children! Considering their plight I’m sure that even death would seem like a welcome relief to many.

It would do us all good to put ourselves in the place of these poor people. Imagine being driven from your homeland with nothing more than the clothes on your back and what little you can carry. As I look around my house and the office from which I write this article, I see a lot of things that I value highly. With many of those things the emotional attachment is of far greater value than some of the more expensive things God has given us. I would hate to lose them. Why am I so blessed? I could be among those refugees were it not for the grace of God. How can I not be content?

Just yesterday I changed into another pair of shoes because they were more comfortable than the others. Why do I have 2  pair of shoes when others have none? I have a doctor’s appointment later this morning and as usual I dread to go– even complain about it. I even walked out on a recent appointment because I was too impatient to wait any longer. Why do I gripe about this when others have no access to medical treatment at all. Just now, in the middle of this article, I got up to kiss my wife good-bye as she goes to the store– yep, we even have food to eat, while some have none. Going through the gate I dropped the lock and when I bent over to pick it up I brushed against a plant I had watered earlier this morning and got my pants and one shirt sleeve a little wet. You already know what happened next–I complained! I made a big deal out of getting a little water on my clothes. Then I remembered what I was writing! How can I complain about that when millions are staggering  through a burning desert without a drop of water in sight?

I don’t know how else to say it—I am sick of myself! I am fed up with making petty complaints and having a bad attitude, even if for a mere minute, about things not going my way. I’m not only sick of myself, I am ashamed of my country. We Americans are a bunch of spoiled brats. We have more than anyone on earth and we complain more than anyone else. Why do we do that? It not only violates that the Bible teaches, it makes us miserable, torments others, and ruins our testimony. Having been so blessed we ought to do better than that. There is no excuse for us being so ungrateful that we constantly complain about things not going our way. And, as you well know, most  of our complaining has to do with luxuries rather than needs. Just about every American has what they need, yet almost no American has all they want. And it’s that desire for more, bigger, and better that keeps us in a foul mood, and makes us so rude.

Every honest person would admit that this is the way it is, but sadly very few see any need to make personal changes. We would like to avoid the consequences of this problem,but we’re unwilling to address the cause. As long as we love gold more than God, and pleasure more than people, things won’t get any better. But no one wants to deal with the problem. I guess you could say, we are satisfied being unsatisfied. We are pleased with things as they are—pursuing the “American dream”, but God isn’t. He expects more from us. He expects conformity to His commands.

We would all vote for a kinder, more gentle nation where people love one another and everyone lends a helping hand, but no one wants it to start with them. That’s why nothing changes for the better. And nothing will change until we get sick of our shortcomings. There is hope only when we are honest about our condition and hungry for a change. Until then all we do is complain. Think about it!

I’ve often wondered, “Where did the drop-outs go?”. A pastor can’t help but wonder. Did I do something to run them off? Did they leave because of a doctrinal difference? Was it a personality clash with me or others? Did someone mistreat them? Were they simply overcome by discouragement? Were they conquered by some sin?

And the questions just keep coming. Where are they now? What are they doing? Do they plan to come back? These are all interesting questions, but sadly in most cases we never get an answer. When someone is so rude as to leave without a word of explanation it’s rare that you ever hear from them again. I always thought it strange that people would leave a church because of some perceived fault with it, and yet see nothing wrong with dropping out without ever speaking to the pastor. That tells me that they have a character problem. Most people wouldn’t quit their job without a formal resignation, yet they treat the Lord’s church like trash. So in all likelihood, whatever the reason for leaving it is more about their faults than the church’s fault.

So when you see someone drop-out in such a manner it is a sign that they are in need of our prayers. The church would gladly receive them back with open arms and no questions asked, but without prayer it is doubtful that they will ever get the opportunity. It is likely that these people will spend the rest of their lives running from their problems rather than resolving them. That’s not only an awful way to live, it is a terrible testimony for anyone claiming to be a child of God. If you are one of those drop-outs I hope you will reconsider your actions and seek a resolution to your problem, and reconciliation with the church. If you have been embarrassed by your conduct please don’t let your pride keep you from doing what’s right.

Chances are your “problem” was with a particular member or a single issue that upset you, that could easily be resolved if you would just make an effort. That’s something you are obligated to do. If the issue is of such major importance that it warrants leaving the church, at least do it in a dignified way. Make an appointment with the pastor and tell him your story. If you fail to handle your problem in a Christian manner you are going to go from one problem to another–perhaps a lot worse. It pays to do the things the right way. Think about it.