In John 4, John shares the story of the Jesus and the Samaritan woman he met at the well. She was living in sin but Jesus offered her hope and forgiveness. After this encounter, the woman quickly ran to tell others that she had met the Messiah. When the disciples returned from getting some food in the nearby village they appeared to be a little put out by the whole scenario and tried to urge Jesus to eat something. Jesus made a response that should perk up the ears of every believer. He said, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to accomplish His work.” He went on to correct their misguided complacency and said, “Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest” John’s account of this interaction goes on to tell us that, “Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony…” Some believe that when Jesus told the disciples to, “lift up their eyes and see that the fields were white for harvest,” he was referring to a crowd of people, dressed in white, coming toward them from the city. I believe Jesus was letting his disciples know that while they were sitting around trying to figure out how their needs could be met there was a greater need right out in front of them.

There is a struggle that is true for all believers. That is the struggle between being inwardly focused and outwardly focused. The same struggle exists for the church as a body. That’s why we have to be constantly reminded to lift up our eyes and focus on the harvest. We have get past the belief that our needs are the most important ones and remember that our primary task is to reach those who need Jesus. The Samaritan woman told her story and invited people to meet Jesus. John doesn’t give us the number of people who began following Christ through her invitation but it must have been significant.

If our churches are going to be the churches God intended for them to be we have to think more like Jesus. The disciples were wondering about food but Jesus let them know that their focus should be on the harvest. Churches that become more focused on the harvest of souls will be effective in reaching the lost who are in need of a Savior. I want our church to be that kind of church.

1. There are over 250,000 people in Cabarrus and Rowan counties sitting at home on Sunday morning. Every single one of them should be in a church worship service.  Invite them to your church.
2. They will hear a message that could potentially change their life for eternity.
3. God has commissioned us to invite others into a relationship with Him and inviting them to church is a step in that direction.
4. The only way some of your friends and family will ever attend church is if you invite them.
5. The reason most of us are in church is because someone invited us. We should do the same for someone else.

Obviously there are many more reasons than just these. So, who do you know that will be sitting at home this Sunday? Call them today and invite them to come to church with you.