Day 7 of 50

READING GUIDE:

• Read today's devotion below.
• During days 1-7 (at your own pace) read chapters 1 and 2 from Joining Jesus on His Mission.
• After days 1-7, meet with your small group and follow the back-of-the-book discussion guide for SESSION 1.

“Look, I tell you, lift up our eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.” (John 4:35b ESV)

[names are changed in this story] Years ago I worked on a 3-person team. This included our supervisor, Doug, and my friend, Randy. Randy and I were Christians. Doug wasn’t. Doug in fact shared critical comments with other workers about Nancy, a Catholic, who attended early morning services every day. He’d grumble, “Why would a person go to church so much? Seems ridiculous!”  

After a year or so of relationship building, spending more than 8 hours a day together plus weekend hours, Doug asked us, “Why are you guys so happy?” I don’t remember exactly what our response was, but it was something as short, “Jesus.”

Weeks or months later (I don’t recall) an opportunity came when a famous Chicago Bears player was going to speak at a local church. We knew Doug was a big Bears fan and invited him to join us. He was enthusiastic (ripe) for this invitation. Long story short - Doug went to the event and soon became connected at that church. He was baptized there and (funny how things work out) ended up attending services twice-a-week (on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings).

Near the close of chapter 2 Finke gives us a mission lesson, “...if people are not ready, it is almost impossible to pick them. But once they are ready, they’ll come looking for you...Our job is not to try and hurry people along in the ripening process. Jesus is in charge of ripening people. Our job is to watch for people who are ripe.”

Finke asks us, “So, who is ready for good news in your ‘neighborhoods?”

Pray today that God would open your eyes to see the harvest God has prepared before you. Pray for how God may use you in whatever way to help people take a next step--a next step leading to that Jesus-step of receiving and believing in Him.