Scripture
"Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, but happy is he who keeps the law" (Pr. 29:18).
Observation
The Book of Proverbs is written in stereo ... couplets that either reinforce one another or a set of antonyms that oppose each other. The purpose in either case is to increase the reader's comprehension by giving context and understanding through comparison.
Vision is something everyone needs to keep hope alive. Without it, we go in several directions at once and we lose traction. But where does vision come from?
In the local church, we hear that often. "What is your vision?" someone new to the church might say. Or on their way out, some may say, "You don't have enough vision."
I have witnessed that where there is no vision, the people tend to just make one up.
But here, we find an interesting twist. This balancing couplet steers us to the very genesis of vision... "but happy is he who keeps the law."
The bottom line is if we are people who keep His laws with all our hearts, vision will be a by-product, not the primary driver. Vision will emerge as the Holy Spirit leads those whose hearts are obedient and sold out to His ways and His Word.
I have seen often how the Lord reveals His will along the way when we are ready to absorb His next assignment. He knows when we are ready to not only have the zeal to say "yes," but the fullness of character and enough of His likeness to fulfill that "yes."
Vision is something everyone needs to keep hope alive. Without it, we go in several directions at once and we lose traction. But where does vision come from?
In the local church, we hear that often. "What is your vision?" someone new to the church might say. Or on their way out, some may say, "You don't have enough vision."
I have witnessed that where there is no vision, the people tend to just make one up.
But here, we find an interesting twist. This balancing couplet steers us to the very genesis of vision... "but happy is he who keeps the law."
The bottom line is if we are people who keep His laws with all our hearts, vision will be a by-product, not the primary driver. Vision will emerge as the Holy Spirit leads those whose hearts are obedient and sold out to His ways and His Word.
I have seen often how the Lord reveals His will along the way when we are ready to absorb His next assignment. He knows when we are ready to not only have the zeal to say "yes," but the fullness of character and enough of His likeness to fulfill that "yes."
Application
The key thing here is I must not be swayed to perform as much as obey. Surely God has much in store for us and assignments to fulfill, but I must give my emphasis to a culture of obedience and devotion to Christ. In the midst of that heart, I will open my ears to assignments, projects, direction and expansions as God assigns... and He definitely does!
Yesterday morning, we celebrated Youth Day in the services. I had the privilege of announcing to the church that one of our young man, who grew up in the church as a child, is now coming on board to be a staff intern as he prepares himself for full-time service. Years back, I never envision this would happen. Neither did he or even his parents, although they must have prayed. But what let to such a re-direction in his life was obedience. His obedience, our obedience for the pleasure of God. Obedience paves the way for vision.
1Th. 4:1 reminds us of this charge:
Yesterday morning, we celebrated Youth Day in the services. I had the privilege of announcing to the church that one of our young man, who grew up in the church as a child, is now coming on board to be a staff intern as he prepares himself for full-time service. Years back, I never envision this would happen. Neither did he or even his parents, although they must have prayed. But what let to such a re-direction in his life was obedience. His obedience, our obedience for the pleasure of God. Obedience paves the way for vision.
1Th. 4:1 reminds us of this charge:
"Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more."But the bottom line? Our happiness and our joy must not come from a "mission accomplished" as much as it will be from keeping the Law, hearing His heart and obeying His voice with gladness of heart. There will be the pull to perform, but may the pull to be near His side be the strongest attraction of all.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, being a people with a keen relationship with you is of great importance to me. In the end, that is what we will need to lean on ... not accomplishments or projects. Yes, they will be wonderful memories and they will hold the faith-record of Your faithfulness, but that which will bring the greatest joy is that we have walked ever so closely by Your side."Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven." –Luke 10:20
