Thoughts for the Day

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

"It's Good news" the weather man proclaimed, "it's going to be sunny all week!" But what was good news for many people, particularly those on holiday, was not good news for gardeners and farmers. The ground was parched after a prolonged dry spell and crops were in desperate need of water. Today, what is good news for you may not be good news for other people.

In our bibles the word 'gospel ' means 'good news'. The Greek word for 'good news' is 'euaggelion' and it occurs some 93 times in the New Testament. We get the words evangelist, and evangelical. from this. Originally the word 'gospel' meant the whole of the message that Scripture brings us - of God's rescue plan as brought to us by Jesus - but latterly we sometimes hone this to think of the four Gospels - of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

As we can see from the weather forecast though, good news is not good news for everyone, and Jesus saw the need for more 'labourers'. He is speaking of leaders to spread the gospel, and it's just the same today as it was then. But there are things that all of us can do to help:

1. Pray for your clergy, constantly.
2. Pray for more leaders.
3. Continue learning more about your faith.
4. Encourage others to learn more.
5. Speak to others about what your faith means to you.

Lord Jesus,
we ask Your blessing on our clergy
and on all who are in training.
Give them the faith and the skills
to lead the people in Your church.
We also ask Your guidance
as to how we can
learn more about our faith,
and encourage others
to learn about You.
Amen.