day twelve

Jesus is not recruiting you for a hustle. He is sending you in love. When He looked at the crowds He felt compassion. Not annoyance. Not pressure. Compassion. Mission starts there. It looks like a presence that lingers, a question that listens, a quiet courage to pray in the middle of real life. The Spirit does not send us to perform. He sends us to love.

So think local. Your street. Your desk. Your family. The parent at the school gate who always looks wrecked. Being sent by love is not dramatic. It is available. It moves toward people without demanding an outcome. It carries peace into rooms that have forgotten how to breathe.

DAILY READINGS

36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
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21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
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DEEPER

Matthew tells us Jesus saw the crowds and was moved in His gut. They were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. His response is surprising. He does not tell the disciples to work harder. He tells them to pray. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers into His harvest. In other words, mission starts with God’s heart and moves at God’s pace. Prayer comes first, then movement, then more prayer.

John gives us the sending shape. The risen Jesus stands among fearful friends and says, Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. Then He breathes on them and says, Receive the Holy Spirit. Peace, sending, breath. Presence before pressure. Empowerment before activity. We are not sent to fix people. We are sent to bring the presence of the One who heals and restores.

What does that look like in your life? It looks like compassion with skin on. We notice who is near us. We pray their names. We take a step toward them. We carry peace in our tone and in our pace. We listen for the Spirit’s nudge and we respond in simple ways. A meal for the neighbour who has had a rough week. A text that says “I am praying for you today”. An offer to pray right there at the cafe in plain words. Come, Holy Spirit. Bring Your peace. Bring Your help.

This is not a numbers game. It is a love story. The river of God’s life does not pool in us. It moves outward. It finds the edges and brings green to dry places. When we move toward people with Jesus’ compassion, we discover He has already been at work. We are not carrying Him into emptiness. We are joining Him in the harvest He loves.

RESPOND

Where has pressure replaced love in how I think about mission? Whose face comes to mind right now, what would love do next?

PRAYER

Father, help me release the pressure to perform. Meet me with your love, and show me your heart for the world. Open my eyes to see the ones who the Spirit is leading me to love as you love.

Also, pray now for more worship leaders, kids helpers, evangelists, young people... Ask God to release to us the right people for this season, so we can keep stepping deeper into His plans.

ACTIVATE

Ask the Spirit for a name and a need. Approach with kindness. “Could I pray a short prayer for you?” Keep it simple and brief. Invite the Holy Spirit. Ask what they notice. Bless them. If God is moving, thank Him and pray once more. If not, honour them and keep loving them.

It may feel awkward, but that’s often where the Spirit’s power shows up.