Serving in a life-giving ministry can be incredibly rewarding and fulfilling. This is even more true when people are being impacted and transformed by God. However, it’s easy to lose focus and interest in serving when the fruit of the ministry is nowhere to be found. There is plenty in the Bible about being faithful in seasons when we’re not seeing a harvest. And nature would teach us that certain season are reserved for harvest. However, according to Jesus, we can constantly be expecting to see a spiritual harvest. Jesus wants to give us a mindset for harvest.

Jesus wants to change the way we think.

“Lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest.”

In John 4:35, Jesus shared something to shape the mindset and outlook of his disciples, then and for generations to come. In this passage, the disciples were surrounded by people who they reasoned were not ready to receive the Kingdom of God. They didn’t even seem to notice the opportunity in front of them. However, Jesus was consistently reaping a harvest wherever He went.

I imagine the disciples wrestled with two mental roadblocks that kept them from expecting the people around them come to faith: 1) I am not ready. Or, 2) They are not ready.

Most followers of Jesus don’t feel “ready” or “qualified” when it comes to reaching out and believing that God will use them. One day, they assume they will be, but not right now.

Another hindrance to expecting a harvest is the idea that the people we minister to are so far away from God, that we shouldn't expect anything to change anytime soon.

I love how Jesus addressed their mindset:

You guys have a saying: “There are still 4 more months, and then it’s harvest time.” I want to give you another way to think: “Get a vision for a harvest right now!” This season, whatever natural season you are in, is a season for harvest!

Jesus was like: “You guys are all ‘sow, sow, sow, prepare, prepare, prepare... and maybe one day we’ll see people come to salvation,’ I want you all to start expecting a harvest all around you. I want you guys to change the way you think. I want you to change the way you look at people. That lost person who seems so far away from God... they are white for harvest! The uninterested visitor who comes to church... they are white for harvest. The co-worker who you imagine would never come to church with you... they are white for harvest."

We should walk in the reality that no one is very far away from God. The whole world is one encounter away from laying it all down to follow Him.

We serve a amazing Jesus who can show up in anyone’s situation and reveal Himself.

So, let us not think to ourselves about some far away harvest that we will one day see, but let’s believe Jesus, that all around us, every day, at every church meeting, the fields are white for harvest!

“Lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest.”