Hey friends; it’s been a while since my last post. You know how it is – life has a way of snowballing at times. But that’s no excuse, so let me get back to finishing up my thoughts on how you can learn to discern God’s vision for your life.I’ve suggested thus far, that God has set forth a blueprint for this process in the Book of Hebrews, chapter 11. In verse 13 of that chapter, the writer states that the people of God who caught God's vision for their lives: (1) saw the vision afar off (2) became persuaded by it (3) embraced it and then (4) confessed it with their lives.
We’ve already discussed how you may accomplish number one and two above in earlier posts. Today we will discuss number three- how you may learn to “embrace” God’s vision for your life. Embracing a vision goes beyond merely seeing or becoming persuaded by it. Embracing God’s vision means that you must step out in faith and take action.
A vision without action is basically a fantasy. There must be a time in which the vision leaves your head and manifests itself in your feet. The Bible puts it this way (my translation) – faith without action to back it up is dead. (James 2:17). Lights – camera – action!
The reverse is also true: action without vision is equally unavailing. We’ve all seen very active people who seem to be going nowhere because they lack a true vision for their lives. That is why all three stages of this process are required. You must first begin to see God’s vision, and then when you are persuaded by it, you must embrace it by going for it!
The Bible is filled with many people who caught God’s vision and then embraced it with their lives. Hebrews 11 is a great place to start. The key is that these individuals took steps to follows God’s leading. Sometimes they made wrong moves and stepped entirely out of God’s will, but they were moving. Ask yourself what is stopping you from taking action on wherever God is leading you and whether you can afford the delay.
There is no need to fear stepping out for God. Keep three things in mind: (1) God equips His people to go for it. Among many things, God is a provider and where he guides, He always provides. (2) God begs His people to go for it. In Isaiah 64:7 God laments that there hardly seems to be anyone who would simply call on His name and believe Him for something. (3) God expects His people to go for it.
In Matthew 25:14-30 the Lord tells a parable about a “wicked” servant who hid the talent God gave him in the earth and did not build on it. That servant was harshly chastised. So what am I saying? Go for it friend! Don’t wait for perfect conditions, perfect people or perfect timing.
These things may never arrive. Once you hear God’s voice and you become persuaded, it’s time to get off the fence and take action in some small way. This may not be the final destination (99% of the time it is not). But get going – take even a baby step toward whatever God is prodding you to do today and be encouraged, He is with you!
