2 minute read
The Big Picture
The Harvest (Now & Not Yet) Edition
Gary Hill, Executive Director
Why don’t we pray?
Speaking at CRU’s Teachers’ Conference in 2021, Sue Hume, a retired teacher, urged attendees to reflect on the importance of their interactions with their students, and to pray for them and for challenges that arise. “Focus on the greatness of God when you pray,” she said, “not the size of your problem.”
It’s an important approach. When Peter allowed his eyes to drift from Jesus to the threat of the waves around him, he sank (Matt 14:29-31). Prayer is a reflection of our dependence on the Sovereign God, and a trust that His power and love is not bound by our circumstances.
Nehemiah demonstrated this. He knew God to be great and awesome (Neh 1:4), and so he engaged in a potentially hazardous conversation with a king (2:4) and then a clearly hazardous conflict with an unlikely alliance of opponents (4:7-9). In each circumstance, he prayed.
On the other hand, sometimes we don’t pray because we don’t recognise the magnitude of the need. Our perspective is too small. Recognising the urgency of reaching the lost crowd, Jesus tells his followers to pray that God would send workers (Matt 9:36-38).
There are many things worth noting from this passage. Consider Jesus’ compassion for the people, which propelled him to travel, teach, proclaim and heal, as well as ordering prayer. Consider Jesus’ reflection on the people’s condition, describing them as being like “sheep without a shepherd”; a phrase often used in the Old Testament for those who had been led astray, chasing after things which would never satisfy. And consider his recognition of the Father’s sovereignty. God is the Lord of the harvest. He is the one who gives growth and who can provide workers.
This ‘Harvest’ edition of CRUview recognises that there are many opportunities to share the good news of Jesus, despite the restrictions and limitations that COVID continues to bring. Before the recent lockdowns in Greater Sydney, CRU had already seen record numbers attend CRU Camps, with even more booked in for the winter season, which was cut short. We also saw booming attendance in CRU Groups and other Schools Ministry events. Sadly, even before tighter COVID restrictions were introduced, we were having to turn away hundreds of young people as we simply did not have enough leaders.
When lockdowns are lifted and camps can resume, we anticipate that young people will flock back to camps and CRU Groups. So please pray for God to send workers. We may not know the exact time of the harvest season, but God does.
Pray also that we will have eyes to see the millions more who are as yet unreached. May we be filled with compassion, recognise the need to seek God’s power to provide, and pray and work earnestly to God’s glory.
