Give or Go? How do we know?

Matthew 9:35-38 (NLT)

The Need for Workers

³⁵ Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. ³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. ³⁸ So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

Do you remember "back in the day" when we had to use the dial to tune into a radio station in the car? I remember being a little girl sprawled out on the back seat trying to sleep(no seatbelt required). My dad would start fiddling with the dial trying to find a station with a good signal. He'd twist and turn it until something came in loud and clear. Sometimes we'd hear the local station which was, back then, unmanned in the evenings. Other times, we'd hear a tent revivalist in a far away place. Often, we'd hear static and depending on exactly how the signals crossed, sometimes we could hear that preacher preaching his heart out in Texas, Loretta singing at the Opry, and Elvis playing right on top of it all. Mixed signals! They can be so confusing. Wouldn't it be great if all the matters of life came in loud and clear with no disruptions? Think with me in light of our call as believers to spread the gospel throughout the world. With so many different options, the opportunities to give and to go get stacked up like the radio waves and it's hard to know which one to tune in to. Each one in it's own way seems best! It concerns me too that we don't get frustrated or lazy and fail to tune in to what God has for us.  Literally, there are children to sponsor, slaves to free, prisoners to visit, victims to assist, downtrodden to counsel, homeless to shelter, hungry to feed, naked to clothe, sick to tend, wells to dig, houses to build, plus missionaries to support on the foreign and local fields who have given their lives to all of these kinds of service...all in the name of Jesus! Our communities and our world are full of people who still need Jesus! Are we tuned in? Are we listening clearly for the Holy Spirit's direction as to how He wants to use us? Are we distracted or are we focused on His clear signal? Are we willing to go or to give regardless of the cost? Will we obey? Are we concerned that our lives are already too busy? Are we afraid to take risks? Are we willing to invest? Will you ask the Holy Spirit what He has for you to do today? Lord, how will you use me to further the global spread of the gospel? How far can my arms and legs or my dollars reach? Will you ask the Lord of the harvest if you are the laborer He wants to send?