Missions Monday

When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were weary and worn out, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest."

Matthew 9:36-38, CSB

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Father, you are a great God, wonderful, full of compassion, full of grace, full of love, full of justice, full of righteousness. You are the greatest being in the universe; you created the universe for your glory. You created mankind as the crowning achievement of your creation, and you have chosen to make yourself known among us. How could mortals possibly know the eternal God except for your action to make yourself known to us. Thank you for speaking to the prophets, providing your written word, and sending Jesus to show yourself to us. May we delight in knowing you, and may we seek our whole satisfaction in you.

Father, make yourself known among the lost people of this earth. There are still so many people who have no one to tell them about you. Work in their hearts so that they can catch a glimpse of you through your creation. Let them look into the night's sky and see your glory. Let them look at the power and design of your creation and see your works. But also, Father, send them missionaries to carry your word to them. The fields are waiting for their harvest; send out workers.

And Father, continue to bless and work through those missionaries on the field right now. Give strength, courage and comfort to those missionaries far from home, far from their native cultures, who are carrying your word into places without a church. Encourage them in their difficult task, and let them know that you really are with them, even to the ends of the earth. And bless those missionaries who are working among people whose culture was once built upon the Christian faith, but has lost that background. They, too, have a uniquely difficult task. And as they work to rebuild the Christian theology among the people, may that rebuilding be done in the hearts and minds. Teaching Christian ideas is worthless if it does not result in a change of people's hearts, for true faith is a belief that you sent your Son to earth and that you raised him from the dead. May people throughout the world today hear that message and find the good news in that they, too, can be raised with Jesus. May they die to their sin and find life in you.

May all your people gladly give what they cannot keep to gain what they cannot lose. Help me to see that you are worth more than any other treasure.

I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.