03/11/2025
How many times have we taken what God has asked us to do for Him and after starting to do that thing, made it into what we thought it should be? Perhaps the Lord told us to "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 took what He asked us to do and attempted to improve upon His 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 wants him to 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 his authority.
“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 of how to obey as we should. 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 in every detail. 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, listen to what he wrote...
"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
Pastor 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. Are we performing what God has asked us to do for him and doing so exactly as He asked?
“Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it, but whoever respects a command is rewarded.”
Proverbs 13:13 NIV
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for those things you ask of me. Thank you, Lord, for the precise instruction you give me so that as I follow it I will not veer from your will. As I serve you and am true to your call, never let me take your glory upon myself, or feel that I can improve upon what you have asked of me. Let my efforts be solely for you and your vision be accomplished through me such that it sanctifies 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, that I will continue to look to you and ask, "what now Lord?"
Holy Father, you have instructed us to pray and fast in secret; I pray that whenever your call should require me to say my prayers that I say them in private too, and that you will lead me to a secret place where we can speak in confidence. I ask that you help me in this effort so that my reward will be in heaven and not of men, or on this earth. Keep me true to your every calling O Lord, so that your will is done perfectly, and your Holy Name glorified and lifted up always.
Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who was, and is, and is to come. Holy are you who is perfect and precise in all you say, and in your expectation that I will obey you to the letter when you call upon me. Hear this as my prayer, and guide me in all I do for you, so that you will look upon me at the time of my judgement and say that I am your child in whom you are well pleased. Let this, coupled with your love, will be my reward Father, and see in my heart that I long for it day and night. Praised be your Holy Name, and may all believers join me in worship and in saying…
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Great is the Lord my God… Amen!
Amen!
“and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.””
Matthew 3:17 ESV
“Always obey the Lord and you will be happy. If you are stubborn, you will be ruined.”
Proverbs 28:14 GNT
“The Lord watches over the blameless all their days,
and their inheritance will last forever.
They will not be disgraced in times of adversity;
they will be satisfied in days of hunger.”
Psalm 37:18-19 CSB
Rich Forbes