The Lost Are Open – Be Present and Engaged!

It’s easy to assume that most people aren’t interested in faith.

• Maybe they’ve walked away from church.
• Possibly they’ve never given Jesus a second thought.
• Perhaps their social media posts make you think, ‘They’re not open to Christianity.’

But Jesus has a different assessment!

In Matthew 9:37 (NIV), Jesus declares, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” In John 4:35 (NIV), He says, “Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”

If we agree that Jesus doesn’t lie, and that His words aren’t wishful thinking, we need a more honest explanation for our lived experience being so different from what He says in Scripture. Here’s a better option: Jesus’ words are a direct challenge to the assumptions we make about our unbelieving friends.

The reality is that most lost people are far more spiritually hungry than we give them credit for..

They’re searching - for hope, for meaning, for belonging. It’s just that often they don’t know how to articulate these God-given longings. Deep down they desire authentic spiritual reality, but are stuck on how to satisfy that hunger.

We’ve seen this firsthand.

• A neighbor who wouldn’t set foot in church asked for prayer.
• A friend who seemed skeptical joined us in serving the poor.
• A colleague who normally keeps things light suddenly opened up about their fears and regrets.

These aren’t isolated cases - they’re signs that God is already at work.

That’s why the first step in relational mission isn’t to talk, but to see with spiritual eyes.

Building on the foundation of prayer, our next step is to become present, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our interactions as we give time, attention, and energy to this.

Go for a walk in your neighborhood. Linger longer in your front yard or after work or with your friends. Smile, wave, stop for a conversation. These small intentional acts can lead to deeper connections, which often turn into trust, openness, and spiritual connections.

Here’s the key: we’re not meant to force spiritual hunger. We’re called to recognize it and to respond with love. That starts by being present and building relationships with those around us.

While the Bible does caution us not to be shaped by the values of those who don’t worship God (Psalm 1:1), it’s also clear that we must operate by faith and not fear. Jesus consistently spent time with people who were spiritually lost, even when they were broken and in the midst of their sin. He wasn’t afraid to engage, and to lead with His compassion and love.

Of course, as we’ll see further on, He did not stop there. But to start, we must imitate Him by being lovingly present with our spiritual eyes open, so that we can learn to spot where the Father is already at work around us.

As Jesus says that the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few, will you become one of those few?

Your Next Steps

1. What would it look like to slow down and be more intentionally present this week? Name one place in your life where you’re going to do this.
2. Ask the Spirit to show you who is open to Him. Pray, “Lord, who around me is spiritually open?”
3. How can you lead with compassion, love, and acceptance? If your nature is to dive into theological debate or harshly judging the lost, this will be a challenge! However, try praying, “Jesus, please would you give me Your heart of compassion and love for [name].”

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for seeing and loving me when I was far from You. Please give me eyes to see the lost around me the way You do. Help me to recognize the spiritual hunger that I've been missing. Give me Your compassion to see the harvest that's ready, and to reach out with love and grace. Help me to slow down to be present. I want to be a willing worker in Your harvest fields! Amen.

More Resources for You!

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