The Harvest Is Ripe: Answering the Call to Serve with God’s Perfect Timing (John 4:35)
In John 4:34-35, Jesus offers us a powerful message of purpose, urgency, and divine timing: “The food that keeps me going is that I do the will of the One who sent me, finishing the work He started. As you look around right now, wouldn’t you say that in about four months it will be time to harvest? Well, I’m telling you to open your eyes and take a good look at what’s right in front of you. These Samaritan fields are ripe. It’s harvest time!” (MSG)
A common temptation is to think that we are too young or too old to be used by God. We might think we haven’t finished “preparing” yet or that we missed our chance. But Jesus is clear: it’s never too early, and it’s never too late.
Think about the Samaritan woman whom Jesus spoke to earlier in this passage. She was an unlikely candidate for a messenger of God’s grace. She had a complicated past and was an outsider to the Jewish people. But Jesus saw her, He spoke to her, and He used her to bring a whole village to faith.
No matter where you are in life, God can use you right where you are. He can use your story, your willingness, and your presence to make a difference in someone’s life. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about being available. God’s perfect timing means that He is ready to work through you at just the right moment, whether you’re at the beginning of your journey or well into the later seasons of it.
Jesus is inviting us to be part of something bigger than ourselves. The harvest He speaks of is the work of bringing others to Him, the work of showing His love to a world in need, and being His hands and feet in our communities.
So, wherever you are right now—whether you’re just beginning to understand God’s call, or whether you’ve been walking with Him for years—know that the fields are ripe for harvest. You are never too early or too late to be part of God’s perfect timing. Open your eyes to the opportunities around you, and trust that God will use you just as you are.
The harvest is ready. Will you answer the call?
