   When Martin Luther began the work that became the Great Reformation, his friend Myconius said, 'I can best help where I am. I will remain and pray while you toil.' One night, Myconius dreamed that Jesus approached him and showed him his hands and feet, wounded by his crucifixion. He looked into the eyes of his Saviour and heard Jesus say to him, 'Follow me.' Jesus led him to a mountaintop and pointed eastward. Myconius saw a plain stretching away from the horizon, dotted with thousands and thousands of sheep, and one man was trying to shepherd the great flock. Myconius recognised him as his friend, Martin Luther. The Saviour then pointed westward, and Myconius saw a great field of standing corn, with only one reaper trying to harvest it. The labourer was obviously exhausted, but he persisted. Myconius recognised the reaper to be Martin Luther. 'It is not enough that I should pray,' he said when he awoke. 'The sheep must be shepherded, and the field of corn must be reaped. Here am I; send me.' He immediately sought out Luther and volunteered to serve in whatever capacity Luther desired.

   The Bible says, 'When [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion...Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest...to send out workers into his harvest field"' (Matthew 9:36-38 NIV). 

   Jesus' 'prayer request' was for labourers to go into the harvest field. And he's calling you to be one of them.





— SCRIPTURE —

    'Pray to the Lord...to send more workers into his fields.' Matthew 9:38 NLT
— SOULFOOD —

    Jer 25-27, Luke 23:1-25, Ps 72:1-11, Pro 9:1-6
    

When Martin Luther began the work that became the Great Reformation, his friend Myconius said, 'I can best help where I am. I will remain and pray while you toil.' One night, Myconius dreamed that Jesus approached him and showed him his hands and feet, wounded by his crucifixion. He looked into the eyes of his Saviour and heard Jesus say to him, 'Follow me.' Jesus led him to a mountaintop and pointed eastward. Myconius saw a plain stretching away from the horizon, dotted with thousands and thousands of sheep, and one man was trying to shepherd the great flock. Myconius recognised him as his friend, Martin Luther. The Saviour then pointed westward, and Myconius saw a great field of standing corn, with only one reaper trying to harvest it. The labourer was obviously exhausted, but he persisted. Myconius recognised the reaper to be Martin Luther. 'It is not enough that I should pray,' he said when he awoke. 'The sheep must be shepherded, and the field of corn must be reaped. Here am I; send me.' He immediately sought out Luther and volunteered to serve in whatever capacity Luther desired. The Bible says, 'When [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion...Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest...to send out workers into his harvest field"' (Matthew 9:36-38 NIV). Jesus' 'prayer request' was for labourers to go into the harvest field. And he's calling you to be one of them.
 
 — SCRIPTURE — 
 'Pray to the Lord...to send more workers into his fields.' Matthew 9:38 NLT 
 — SOULFOOD — 
 Jer 25-27, Luke 23:1-25, Ps 72:1-11, Pro 9:1-6

The Word For Today is a daily devotional by authors Bob and Debby Gass. Every day, tens of thousands of people across New Zealand are encouraged and uplifted by its relevant insights.

The daily readings resonate with people as they often speak into their current circumstances. Often readers express wonder at how a particular day’s devotion appeared to be ‘written just for me’

The Word For Today is a daily devotional by authors Bob and Debby Gass. Every day, tens of thousands of people across New Zealand are encouraged and uplifted by its relevant insights.
The daily readings resonate with people as they often speak into their current circumstances. Often readers express wonder at how a particular day&rsquo;s devotion appeared to be &lsquo;written just for me&rsquo;

The Word For Today

Be a labourer

   We are three-part beings: spirit, soul and body. When we make Jesus Lord of our lives, our spirit receives healing from spiritual death. But there are still two areas that need Jesus' healing touch: our souls (mind, emotions and will) and our physical bodies. God's word teaches us that physical health and mental health are irrevocably linked. 'For as he thinks in his heart, so is he' (Proverbs 23:7 NKJV). What we think about ourselves is inevitably what we become. Unhealthy thinking produces unhealthy living. John wrote: 'I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers' (3 John 1:2 NKJV). 

   For any area where our souls are sick - low self-esteem, negative thoughts, destructive habits - the word of God is the answer to nourishing us into a balanced and healthy state. The majority of Satan's attacks begin in the mind. He uses wrong thoughts and images in our minds to lead us away from God's best. The only way to counteract this is to stand on God's word and allow his healthy thoughts to permeate our thinking daily. Thoughts of fear can be replaced with thoughts of faith; thoughts of lack with thoughts of provision; thoughts of failure and depression can be replaced with thoughts of success and joy. 

   How does this change happen? Paul answered: 'Let the Spirit change your way of thinking and make you into a new person. You were created to be like God, and so you must please him and be truly holy' (Ephesians 4:23-24 CEV).





— SCRIPTURE —

    'Let the Spirit change your way of thinking.' Ephesians 4:23 CEV
— SOULFOOD —

    Jer 31-32, Luke 24:13-18, Ps 32, Pro 9:10-16
    

We are three-part beings: spirit, soul and body. When we make Jesus Lord of our lives, our spirit receives healing from spiritual death. But there are still two areas that need Jesus' healing touch: our souls (mind, emotions and will) and our physical bodies. God's word teaches us that physical health and mental health are irrevocably linked. 'For as he thinks in his heart, so is he' (Proverbs 23:7 NKJV). What we think about ourselves is inevitably what we become. Unhealthy thinking produces unhealthy living. John wrote: 'I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers' (3 John 1:2 NKJV). For any area where our souls are sick - low self-esteem, negative thoughts, destructive habits - the word of God is the answer to nourishing us into a balanced and healthy state. The majority of Satan's attacks begin in the mind. He uses wrong thoughts and images in our minds to lead us away from God's best. The only way to counteract this is to stand on God's word and allow his healthy thoughts to permeate our thinking daily. Thoughts of fear can be replaced with thoughts of faith; thoughts of lack with thoughts of provision; thoughts of failure and depression can be replaced with thoughts of success and joy. How does this change happen? Paul answered: 'Let the Spirit change your way of thinking and make you into a new person. You were created to be like God, and so you must please him and be truly holy' (Ephesians 4:23-24 CEV).
 
 — SCRIPTURE — 
 'Let the Spirit change your way of thinking.' Ephesians 4:23 CEV 
 — SOULFOOD — 
 Jer 31-32, Luke 24:13-18, Ps 32, Pro 9:10-16

Healing for your mind

   One day your heart will give a final pulse, and your lungs will empty a final breath. And barring the return of Jesus, you will die. The psalmist asked, 'What person alive will not die? Who can escape the grave' (Psalm 89:48 NCV)? Young and old, good and bad, rich and poor; neither gender is spared; no class is exempt. 'No one has power over the time of their death' (Ecclesiastes 8:8 NIV). The geniuses, the rich, the poor - no one outruns or outsmarts it. Julius Caesar died. Elvis died. John Kennedy died. Princess Diana died. We all will die. We won't escape death. The finest surgeon may enhance your life but can't eliminate your death. The Hebrew writer was blunt: 'People are destined to die once' (Hebrews 9:27 NIV). Exercise all you want. Eat nothing but healthy food and pop fists full of vitamins. Stay out of the sun, away from alcohol and off drugs. Do your best to stay alive, and still, you will die. 

   Death seems like such a dead end until we read Jesus' resurrection story: 'He is not here; for he is risen, as he said...Go quickly and tell his disciples...he is going before you into Galilee; there you will see him...So they went out quickly...to bring his disciples word...Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw him, they worshipped him' (Matthew 28:6-17 NKJV). 

   For the redeemed child of God, death is not the end but the beginning of a glorious life in Heaven that will have no end.





— SCRIPTURE —

    'He is not here: he has risen, just as he said.' Matthew 28:6 NIV
— SOULFOOD —

    1 Cor 15, Luke 24:1-12
    

One day your heart will give a final pulse, and your lungs will empty a final breath. And barring the return of Jesus, you will die. The psalmist asked, 'What person alive will not die? Who can escape the grave' (Psalm 89:48 NCV)? Young and old, good and bad, rich and poor; neither gender is spared; no class is exempt. 'No one has power over the time of their death' (Ecclesiastes 8:8 NIV). The geniuses, the rich, the poor - no one outruns or outsmarts it. Julius Caesar died. Elvis died. John Kennedy died. Princess Diana died. We all will die. We won't escape death. The finest surgeon may enhance your life but can't eliminate your death. The Hebrew writer was blunt: 'People are destined to die once' (Hebrews 9:27 NIV). Exercise all you want. Eat nothing but healthy food and pop fists full of vitamins. Stay out of the sun, away from alcohol and off drugs. Do your best to stay alive, and still, you will die. Death seems like such a dead end until we read Jesus' resurrection story: 'He is not here; for he is risen, as he said...Go quickly and tell his disciples...he is going before you into Galilee; there you will see him...So they went out quickly...to bring his disciples word...Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw him, they worshipped him' (Matthew 28:6-17 NKJV). For the redeemed child of God, death is not the end but the beginning of a glorious life in Heaven that will have no end.
 
 — SCRIPTURE — 
 'He is not here: he has risen, just as he said.' Matthew 28:6 NIV 
 — SOULFOOD — 
 1 Cor 15, Luke 24:1-12

Jesus conquered death for you

   In Old Testament times, people received forgiveness from God by bringing a sacrificial lamb to the altar, where a priest would shed its blood and offer it as atonement. The first person in Scripture to do this was Cain's brother, Abel (see Genesis 4:4). When Solomon dedicated his temple, he sacrificed 120,000 sheep and 22,000 oxen as a sacrifice for the nation. In the Old Testament Tabernacle, the sacrificial fire was never allowed to go out. The Israelites carried it with them on through the wilderness, and it's estimated that between Gethsemane and Easter, no less than 100,000 lambs died, literally turning the Kidron Stream red.

   However, not one drop of all that shed blood could atone for our sins. The sacrifices were simply rolled forward, waiting for a lamb whose sacrifice would end all sacrifices, a priest whose finished work would atone for sin once and for all. And that's what happened when Jesus cried, 'It is finished.' In Hebrew, the phrase literally means, 'Paid in full.' At that moment, the curtain in the temple that separated the people from God was torn from top to bottom. As a result, we can now go at any time where only one man could go one day a year - into the presence of God, knowing we'll be loved, accepted, seen through the blood of Christ and deemed righteous. 

   With this in mind, 'Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need' (Hebrews 4:16 NKJV). 





— SCRIPTURE —

    'Jesus said, "It is finished!"' John 19:30 NIV
— SOULFOOD —

    Jer 28-30, Luke 23:50-56, Ps 72:12-20, Pro 9:7-9
    

In Old Testament times, people received forgiveness from God by bringing a sacrificial lamb to the altar, where a priest would shed its blood and offer it as atonement. The first person in Scripture to do this was Cain's brother, Abel (see Genesis 4:4). When Solomon dedicated his temple, he sacrificed 120,000 sheep and 22,000 oxen as a sacrifice for the nation. In the Old Testament Tabernacle, the sacrificial fire was never allowed to go out. The Israelites carried it with them on through the wilderness, and it's estimated that between Gethsemane and Easter, no less than 100,000 lambs died, literally turning the Kidron Stream red. However, not one drop of all that shed blood could atone for our sins. The sacrifices were simply rolled forward, waiting for a lamb whose sacrifice would end all sacrifices, a priest whose finished work would atone for sin once and for all. And that's what happened when Jesus cried, 'It is finished.' In Hebrew, the phrase literally means, 'Paid in full.' At that moment, the curtain in the temple that separated the people from God was torn from top to bottom. As a result, we can now go at any time where only one man could go one day a year - into the presence of God, knowing we'll be loved, accepted, seen through the blood of Christ and deemed righteous. With this in mind, 'Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need' (Hebrews 4:16 NKJV). 
 
 — SCRIPTURE — 
 'Jesus said, "It is finished!"' John 19:30 NIV 
 — SOULFOOD — 
 Jer 28-30, Luke 23:50-56, Ps 72:12-20, Pro 9:7-9

Be a labourer

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