Dear Website Guest,
In the year 2011, here at the Church of the Open Door UCC, God has called us to reap His harvest; therefore, our theme for the year is, “Reaping God’s Harvest.” In Matthew (9:37-38) Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” The good news is the long awaited Messiah has finally come. Many times we pray to the God of the harvest for something, only to have Him answer our prayers by requiring us to do something.
Today many are hurting economically and are physically in pain. Christ’s healing miracles, parables, signs and wonders all proved that His teachings were true. Scripture states, “When He saw the crowds he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd” Matthew (9:36). Christ looked at the crowds following him and likened them to a field ripe for harvest. Our community is looking to the church to regain its focus, to provide leadership, and to harvest lost souls.
Many today are ready to give their lives to Christ, if only someone would just show them how. Christ tells us to pray for one another, and He teaches us in this passage to pray for His laborers. God is blessing our church with an abundant harvest of workers, in children, in youth, in young adults and in healthy elders. What a great intergenerational blessing God is giving us.
Finally, in Galatians (6:8-10), Paul says, “The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one, who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” Paul goes on to remind us, to seize every opportunity to do good, especially for those who are in the family of the faith. Therefore, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” By the power of the Holy Spirit, we should work together as common laborers in Christ’s mission field, “Reaping God’s Harvest.”
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor R. Joaquin Willis