I've been really encouraged by the baptisms at church lately. I am amazed at how open people's hearts are to God's words and how much disciples have been sharing their faith lately.
Personally, Joe and I have been praying to reach out to a couple together. One day, while being in deep thought about all the encouraging things that have been happening to God's church, this scripture struck me.
The fields are ripe for harvest. Harvest time can not be mistaken. There's fruits, crops everywhere. People are studying the Bible and getting baptized. It dawned on me that if there's any time that people will be open to know God more, it is now.
I shared this insight with my husband Joe and couple days later, we were given an opportunity to invite someone to church. We were at Applebee's, having a double date with disciples. When it was time to pay the bill, my husband nudged me to invite the waitress to church. To my shame, I was overcomed by timidity. My husband, however, did invite her to church. She said that she goes to a great church (which may have meant, she wasn't open to go to ours). She walked away.
When she came back, my husband asked, "We have a great Bible study series at church, would you be open to study the Bible with us?" At this she said, "Yes, actually my fiance' and I have been wanting to study the Bible more because we're getting married and we know how important it is to have God as the center of our marriage." To make the long story short, we ended up meeting her fiance' who also worked at Applebees. AND we had our first Bible study with them last Wednesday.
There are tons of encouraging things about the Bible study we had, as well as great things about this couple. They are knowledgeable of the Bible and have sincere hearts for God, to say the least. (They met as youth counselors in a youth camp). But what's most encouraging is this: they have been praying to meet an older couple to become their spiritual mentors, and we have been praying to study the Bible with a couple.
God has answered our prayers! It is also encouraging to know that people are praying to be met and studied the Bible with. People are seeking for God.
The harvest is here! (it's probably been here all along). But, I encourage whoever is reading this right now: if there's anyone in your heart that you have been meaning to invite to study the Bible, now is the time to invite him/her.
"He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Luke 10:2
