DEVOTION / White fields in our world
Here’s an interesting statistic from a report called the “State of the Great Commission.” According to the numbers from one group that tracks the growth of the Christian church worldwide:
In 1900, 80+ percent of Christians lived in Europe or North America
Today, nearly 75 percent of Christians live in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania.
Ripe fields
The fields are ripe for harvest are words Jesus spoke to his disciples two thousand years ago. Jesus had been speaking with the Samaritan woman at the well. The disciples were coming back from a “food run.” After talking to this stranger she had met in mid-day, the woman was headed into her town to tell others she’d met the Messiah (John 4:27–30).
Soon she would come back with a crowd of townspeople to whom she had witnessed. The disciples, though, were confused. They had gone to bring back food, but when they offered it to Jesus, he responded, I have food to eat that you know nothing about (vs. 31–34). Jesus explained that “food” for him meant doing the will of his Father. Jesus continued by urging them to open their eyes: look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest (vs. 35–38).
Many believed
Was Jesus gesturing toward the town? Were the townspeople already headed toward them after hearing from the Samaritan woman? Or was Jesus asking his followers to look beyond where they were and consider the big picture? We don’t know from the text, but certainly both could be true. What we do know is that the Holy Spirit was awakening faith in that town. Soon, many of those townspeople believed (vs. 39–41).
And today the fields are still ripe. If the disciples didn’t understand what Jesus was telling them by the well, they certainly understood it more clearly when the ascending Savior charged them to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19)
The ministry of 316NOW continues to heed the Savior’s call. May we always look to see the ripe fields of harvest. The great day of final harvest is coming soon. What a privilege to be part of bringing the message of salvation to the world!
by Dave Payne