The Work Is in the Fields

"Again Jesus said, 'Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.'"
 John 20:21 (NIV)

Do you know the difference between doing chores and doing the real work?

A young preacher named Fred Sampson learned this lesson during a summer on his grandfather's farm. After cutting wood, milking cows, and feeding chickens, Fred was exhausted and ready for bed. When his grandfather asked why he was tired, Fred replied, "Because I've been working!" His grandfather sat him down and said, "Son, chopping wood, milking cows, feeding chickens—those are chores. The work is in the fields."

In today's verse, Jesus makes a powerful statement: "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." (John 20:21, NIV) What was He sending them to do? Just as the Father sent the Son to seek and save the lost, the Son sends believers to do the same work. What the Father required of Jesus, Jesus requires of us.

Here's something that might surprise you: You won't find one Bible verse that commands an unbeliever to go to church. God never tells unbelievers to come to church—He tells believers to leave the church and go into the world.

We should worship, study, and fellowship together—but those are chores. The real work happens when we leave our comfort zones and go into the world to seek people who need Jesus. It may seem strange that unbelievers don't want to go to church—but what's really odd is that believers don't want to leave the church and go into the world.

You weren't just born into this world, you were sent into this world with a mission. Just as Jesus was sent to earth so we could go to heaven, we're sent to earth to tell others how to experience the Kingdom of Heaven both now and in eternity.

Where is God sending you today? Your workplace? Your neighborhood? That relationship you've been avoiding? The work isn't in the building, it's in the fields.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for sending me out with Your mission. Help me see beyond the chores to the real work You've called me to do. Give me courage to go into the world and share Your love. In Jesus' Name, Amen.