Jerusalem is filled with people these days because of Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles. It is wonderful to see many families with happy children thronging the streets. My hotel is located just inside the Jaffa gate which is a major thoroughfare for foot traffic. At the gate you will see armed policemen, monks, tour groups, vendors selling bread and pomegranate juice, orthodox Jews, and pilgrims from all over the world. There was a group of people whose matching bright-green shirts caught my eye. On the back of the shirts was printed, "Vision for Israel."
As a person who has immigrated to a different country from where I was born, this shirt sent a message I imagine Jew or Gentile living in Israel finds offensive. Their intentions may be noble, but the only One with a relevant "vision for Israel," Australia, or any other nation is God! Scripture makes it clear God has a clear vision and plan for people, cities, and nations. On one level it seems a bit presumptuous to claim you have a vision for others when your own life is a vapour! "Vision" is a loaded word that means different things to different people. But since our God does more than we could ever ask or think, it is clear my greatest visions leave much to be desired.
I am convinced the best ministers are not those who have a vision for a nation, but those who have a clear vision of the risen LORD and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Isaiah was a man greatly used by God - not to accomplish fruitfulness or revival we often envision - because in seeing a vision of God his own need was revealed. His life was lived in the glorious illumination of the God who called and sent Him for His own purposes. Isaiah 6:1-3 says, "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!" In light of this revelation Isaiah saw his inadequacy and discovered the sufficiency of the Almighty God.
Visions and plans for the future by themselves do not compare to the God who knows the future and will ultimately accomplish His perfect will. Since God has revealed Himself to us in Jesus Christ, we are to look to Him for wisdom and strength, being guided by the Holy Spirit. God is the One who brings visions to pass. Should God give you a vision, like the Macedonian man who appeared to Paul or the sheet which was dropped from heaven before Peter, the vision is never to be our guide. That is God's territory, for we need Him to help us every step of the way. Whether or not we see our vision fulfilled, we can have all confidence Jesus is worthy of our admiring gaze for eternity. This much is clear!
As a person who has immigrated to a different country from where I was born, this shirt sent a message I imagine Jew or Gentile living in Israel finds offensive. Their intentions may be noble, but the only One with a relevant "vision for Israel," Australia, or any other nation is God! Scripture makes it clear God has a clear vision and plan for people, cities, and nations. On one level it seems a bit presumptuous to claim you have a vision for others when your own life is a vapour! "Vision" is a loaded word that means different things to different people. But since our God does more than we could ever ask or think, it is clear my greatest visions leave much to be desired.
I am convinced the best ministers are not those who have a vision for a nation, but those who have a clear vision of the risen LORD and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Isaiah was a man greatly used by God - not to accomplish fruitfulness or revival we often envision - because in seeing a vision of God his own need was revealed. His life was lived in the glorious illumination of the God who called and sent Him for His own purposes. Isaiah 6:1-3 says, "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!" In light of this revelation Isaiah saw his inadequacy and discovered the sufficiency of the Almighty God.
Visions and plans for the future by themselves do not compare to the God who knows the future and will ultimately accomplish His perfect will. Since God has revealed Himself to us in Jesus Christ, we are to look to Him for wisdom and strength, being guided by the Holy Spirit. God is the One who brings visions to pass. Should God give you a vision, like the Macedonian man who appeared to Paul or the sheet which was dropped from heaven before Peter, the vision is never to be our guide. That is God's territory, for we need Him to help us every step of the way. Whether or not we see our vision fulfilled, we can have all confidence Jesus is worthy of our admiring gaze for eternity. This much is clear!
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