I have been thinking much about this bible verse over the last several weeks: “Then Jesus went throughout all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were bewildered and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest-ready fields.” (Matthew 9:35-38) As the farmers have been working in the fields over the past several days, gathering the crops from their harvest-ready fields, I have imagined God’s churches being sent out by the LORD to gather up the bewildered and helpless. As Jesus walks throughout all the towns and farms in Steele county, in southern Minnesota and all throughout His creation, he sees the crowds of bewildered and confused and hopeless people. I can hear him saying these words: “I have come down from God and I am now here!” (John 8:42) “I have surely seen the affliction of my creation, who are made in my image, who are in distress. I have heard their cry because of their oppression, for I know their sorrows. I have come down to deliver them from their sufferings.” (Exodus 3:7-8) It may not feel like it, but God is at work in His good world. It seems like we do not hear all the great works that the LORD is performing, because the news outlets shout all the bad news loud and clear. And the politicians shout fear and division. I pray that fear and division and bad news does not infect God’s church. I have heard many stories of people who are in distress. It’s heartbreaking. The financial and economic uncertainty that is affecting several families. The economic and medical uncertainties affecting several families seems so unfair. Young families trying to provide all their medical and financial needs. The family farms are experiencing unique economic pressures. I hear about the growing demand that the food shelves in Steele county are experiencing. Depression and anxiety and fear seem to have their way among the youth. Add to all this the recent natural disasters and the safety of our children. We are living in a harvest-ready mission field, full of God’s creation, who are hungering and thirsting for righteousness. They are seeking truth. Many are bewildered and feel helpless. They are done with social media, all the lies and uncertainty, and all the violence in God’s world. The never ending lawlessness. The only priority for the church is the great commission. I am praying to our God to make it my only priority. We need to get the word out how great our God is. We need to tell everyone about the Love of the Father. We need to tell everyone about the great sacrifice of our LORD Jesus. We need to tell everyone about the inheritance that the LORD has for each of his creation; this inheritance is infinitely more that all the worlds riches, combined. We need to tell everyone that they are made in the image of God. We need to show God’s imagers the path from darkness to light, the path from death to life. God’s spirit is moving and NOW is the time to get out into the fields and proclaim: The LORD God is mighty to save! “The LORD your God is right there with you, as a mighty savior.” (Zephaniah 3:17) Amen. The LORD bless you and protect you; The LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; The LORD lift up his face upon you and give you [His] peace, [or Shalom: In Christ Jesus, nothing missing, nothing broken].” Amen.

Pastor Scott Dirks
First Lutheran Church
Hope, MN.