Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-09-06

Jesus was oppressed by the sense of
need He saw all about Him. Men, wom-
en- and children were sick and suffering
because of sin; ara to make their plight
more pitiable, the very ones VINO were
supposed to lead them into the light were
in total darkness themselves. He went
all about through their cities and VII
lagos spending Himself in an effort to
supply their needs. We can scarcely
appreciate the fullness of His activity.
There was never a soul looked to Him
in entreaty that He turned away empty.
He went about teaching, and preaching,
healing. He did not spare Himself a
moment or an ounce Of strength, but
freely spent Himself.
THE GREAT NEED.
But Jesus had human limitations, and
no one recognized them as keenly as
Himself. AS He looked out on the peo-
pie in their ignorance and distress and
appreciated their great need-and no one
was more sensitive to the needs or
others than Himself-His heart went out
in great compassion for them, for they
were as sheep having no shepherd. They
tainted for lack Of food and water, they
were in danger from enemies, and there
was no one to guide them. They were
distressed and scattered, as sheep not
having a shepherd" Stop here and think
this through
Then Jesus thought Of His own human
limitations. II these people and others
were to be shepherded, He must have
some help. In Gods plan He could not
do it all alone. So He said to His dis
ciples, 1.-The harvest truly is plenteous,
but the laborers are few. Pray We there
fore" There was but one way to sup
ply the need. Laborers might be drafted,
hired, bought; the market and the kind
needed could be secured in only one
way. The Lord of the harvest had to
select, equip, and send them forth. This
could be secured best by simply ask
ing
Then Jesus did what every one must
do who prays successfully. He did what
He could to supply it. He had not only
given Himself unsparingly, but now He
gives His disciples They become apos-
ties now that they are sent forth by
Him. 1t takes all kinds of men to meet
the needs of all kinds of men; so He
sent fishermen, and tax collectors, and
students, and zealots, and even an avari-
cious man like Judas Iscariot. Some
of them were in very humble circum-
stances, some very ignorant; but Jesus
needs all kinds of men to supply the
varied need of various men. There is no
man today but what may be made USE
full in His service. he can use every
kind of man but one-the man who will
not let Him So do not think that be-
cause you are what you are, and are not
what you are not, that Jesus can not use
you. He has place that will just fit
you, and that no one else can fill as well
as yourself
THE GREAT WORK.
He defined the work that they were tn
do Some people cannot see work about
them, but are willing to work If shown
what to do and how to do it. Jesus
did not leave these sent ones in doubt.
He opened their eyes to the work in the
harvest There were certain ones to be
reached at that time-the lost sheep
Of tn ehouse of Israel. Among them
were those who did not know that all
the precious promises that God had
made them through their prophets were
fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth, the Son Of
Mary, the Son of God. They were to be
told that the kingdom of heaven is at
hand. There were sick ones to be heal
ed; the lepers were to be cleansed and
restored to their families; the dead were
to be raised: and devils cast out
There may have been a look on the
faces of these men that made Jesus
speak the next words to them. Have
little sympathy for them; they must