When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” —Matthew 9:36-38 ESV
John Piper, from a 1982 sermon, 20 years ago:
First, there is a great need in Minnesota, just as there was in Palestine—people without faith in Christ are like sheep without a shepherd, no matter how goal-oriented and self-assured they seem.
Second, we have need of compassion for these people. We need to feel pity for them, pity that makes us earnest and solicitous for their eternal welfare.
Third, we need to see the potential of conversion. We must look not to our failures and incompetencies. The harvest we want is, in any case, impossible with men. The potential all lies with God. “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” With God, helpless sheep become a plentiful harvest.
Fourth, therefore, we must pray to the Lord of the harvest. See the privation of men with the compassion of Jesus; and it turns into a potential harvest to be reaped by prayer.
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 