03/11/2017
How many times have we taken what God has asked us to do and after starting to do that thing, made it into what we thought it should be? Perhaps the Lord said "Feed this man" and we dutifully did that, but then transformed our call into feeding, clothing, bringing him into our home... well you get the picture. We lost sight of the original vision, the very thing that God had asked us to do. We have attempted to improve upon God's vision... His will.
This was a rather clumsy example, and indeed there are times when we feed others without being specifically asked by God to do so, but when God sent a prophet to do a certain thing, He expected him to be true to what He asked of him. Take Moses for instance; the people were thirsty and without water, so God said this to Moses...
“And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.”
Numbers 20:7-8 KJV
God has told Moses exactly how He will provide for the people, but instead, Moses strikes the rock with the rod... not once but twice, and before he does so he chides the people and calls them rebels. What should have been an affirmation of God was turned into something that was more about Moses.
“And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.”
Numbers 20:11-12 KJV
In the New Testament we have Paul as an example. When the Apostle Paul was called, he was given a mission. Later he told King Agrippa of his past life, how he was converted, called, and then he said this...
“Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:”
Acts 26:19 KJV
When God calls us, we should be true to our vision as well. Paul's calling wasn't to elevate himself, but to be a witness for Christ. Let's read what Paul was told...
“But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”
Acts 26:16-18 KJV
Jesus didn't send Paul to use his testimony to elevate himself, but rather, to save those who didn't know of their sins, and win their souls to God. Jesus called Paul to be a servant and told him exactly how he should go about it.
When God calls us, or gives us a vision, we are to be true to that mission. When it has been completed it isn't for us to decide how to carry it forth further. We should be still and ask the Lord... "What would you have me do now?"
Oswald Chambers explored this same truth when he wrote about waiting on God's instruction, and then staying true to it...
"We cannot attain to a vision, we must live in the inspiration of it until it accomplishes itself. We get so practical that we forget the vision. At the beginning we saw it but did not wait for it; we rushed off into practical work, and when the vision was fulfilled, we did not see it." - Oswald Chambers
Chambers used a wonderful verse from Habakkuk to illustrate this:
“For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”
Habakkuk 2:3 KJV
When God gives us a vision it is to suit His purposes... not ours. We are only actors in His plan... the vision is always about His will, and not ours, and the timing is perfect.
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for those things you ask of me. As I serve you and am true to your call, never let me take your glory upon myself. Let my efforts be solely for you and your vision be accomplished to the sanctity of you in the eyes of others. Lord, I pray that you will always be pleased with my work on your behalf, and like a good servant who completes a task for his master, I will look to you and ask "what now Lord?" Holy Father you asked us to pray and fast in secret; if your call should require me to do that in private too, I ask that you aid me in this effort so that my reward will be in heaven and not of man. Keep me true to your calling oh Lord, so that your will be done, and your Holy Name glorified and lifted up.
Rich Forbes