ENVISION

I was reflecting back on Pastor Todd's sermon series titled "This Is YOUR Year" and decided to share some key points because this is such an important element of our faith - to be INTENTIONAL about being different. Otherwise, we tend to close out 2019 in the same place we closed out 2018 - and perhaps several years that preceded that. The first sermon from January 6th was titled "ENVISION" which, not surprisingly, focused on figuring out what we need to work on. Let me restate that - what God wants us to work on. The great thing about the New Year is it feels like a clean slate. We make resolutions, we ignore them - you know the routine. But that doesn't have to be our recurring reality. There are steps we can take to do it differently and successfully. First of all, it requires a vision for where you're heading and what has to change to get there. Where does God want to take you this year? (HINT, you can't know that unless you're willing to ask Him to show you. PS, it's OK to ask Him not to overwhelm you, just give me 2 or 3 things! But PS, if you ask this sincerely you may not be comfortable with what they are - but we ARE talking about meaningful change and progress here!) So what might God's vision for you be - a stronger marriage, greater urgency for the lost, to get deeper into Gods word, to overcome your fear sharing your faith, to get involved in mission work, to invest yourself into building relationships? The possibilities are darned near endless, it's between you and God...

 

"Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law" (Proverbs 29:18)  Where there is no revelation - how are we to know what God intends for us if we never ask Him to reveal it to us? It's revealed to us through prayer and His Word. King David asked God to "write it on my heart!" A lack of vision robs us of blessing and keeps us in a constant state of need. It keeps us out of Gods plan and His vision. He doesn't really need your help, but He wants you involved in His vision for what it will do for YOU. Finally, a lack of vision prevents us from keeping our eyes on our savior Jesus Christ. Instead, all we see are problems and limitations that are NOT part of Gods plan for us.

 

"Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!". Jesus stopped and said "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! on your feet! He's calling YOU!" (I'm guessing "cheer up" doesn't do justice to what Bartimaeus is feeling here). Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came (running blindly as the saying goes) to Jesus. "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said "Rabbi, I want to see." "Go" said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road." (Mark 10:46-52) This was Bartimaeus' one shot - his vision was to have vision. Chances are good Jesus would never walk past him again, so he made sure that he didn't waste the opportunity. So don't waste yours - let 2019 be YOUR year to move the needle on your faith journey!