Daily Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart:
Acts 26:19, “Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:”
These words are Paul’s own testimony about his calling and constitute a summary of what governed his life.
It was vision!
He was governed by a heavenly vision that controlled and directed him.
The Lord appeared to him, spoke to him, and gave him a revelation of his mission–to open people’s eyes to see the light of God’s plan and to usher them into God’s heart’s desire.
When we have vision, we have something to govern and direct our lives day by day.
Vision gives us something to which we can render our obedience.
If we do not have a heavenly vision, what do we obey?
What is the vision that directs our life?
What do we see?
What controls us?
Is there vision in our life?
Or are we just spending our days passively waiting to go to heaven?
We need to see what God’s purpose is right now in time.
When vision governs us, our lives are properly controlled and directed.
When there is no vision, then our lives are spent in vanity.
We sit at home and watch television, read the newspaper, go to work, acquire an abundance of material possessions, and exist with a sense of futility and emptiness about life.
We go through the cycle of life without any governing vision.
There is nothing that shapes and directs our lives.
So we must see how crucial vision is to us.
The vision that Paul speaks of as the heavenly vision was the factor that governed his plans and practical life.
Immediately after receiving this vision, he “declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles . . .” (v. 20).
In other words, first comes vision; then comes a controlled and directed life in practical service.
It was vision that gave Paul direction and caused him to spread the gospel and build up local churches in an ever-increasing sphere.
The apostle Paul was under a mandate because he was under vision.
Vision restrains us!
Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision, the people perish (“cast off restraint).”
To “cast off restraint” can also be translated to “run wild.”
Thus, vision in our lives is not only a controlling and directing factor, but a restraining factor.
If we have no vision, we cast off restraint.
We run wild.
We have nothing directing us.
We have nothing controlling us.
There is no governing principle for our lives.
To live in this age without heavenly vision is to become vulnerable to the breakdown of the moral fabric of society.
Man’s thoughts, concepts, values, and degraded morals are gradually taking over.
Today there is increasing moral looseness.
There are more things taking place that are without restraint, and more things happening that at one time would not have been allowed by the general social conscience.
Surely in the unsaved world there is no vision and no God, so the people cast off restraint.
The same can be true with believers.
The fact that Paul had to admonish the Ephesians to “no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind” (Eph. 4:17) indicates that it can happen even to believers.
As children of God we must have a directing heavenly vision in our lives.
Otherwise, we could fall into the condition spoken of in Matthew 24:12: “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.”
This verse indicates that an increasing lack of restraint is being released on the earth.
The mystery of lawlessness is at work.
It is infecting mankind more and more as the hour approaches for the Lord’s coming.
Thus, we need a clear heavenly vision to control us, direct us, and restrain us.
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Until Tomorrow,
With A Shepherd’s Love
Pastor
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Today’s Prayer List
Debra Roberts – Critical
Hanna Hall – Pray For Grace
James Parsons – Mae’s Brother – Home on Palliative Care
Larry Barker – Hip Replacement
Sherry Yoachum – Surgery
Amy Garner’s Mother – Better –
Andria Carter – Ashley’s Sister –
Ashley Burn’s Sister –
Barbara Shed’s Family –
Bill Lawhead – Cancer Returned
Bill Moody –
Charlie Sessom –Waiting –
Colby/Connor – Allison’s G’sons–
Denise Stubbs – Kim Allison’s Mom
Don Slate – Angela Bryan’s Dad – Hospice
Doug Fritzel –
James Garner – Shoulder Replacement
James Garner’s G’Son –
John Burnette –
John McClain’s Mother –
Joyceann – James Garner’s Daughter
Kimberly – Dustin’s Sister–
Lavona Davis –
Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah
Lynn – Nancy Brown’s Daughter –
Mary Sims –
Michael Stanley –
Nancy Brown’s G’Daughter –
Nora Allison – Dustin’s Mom –
Pastor Stucke– Nikki’s Dad
Paula Ferus’ Missionary Friend
Ricky Stubbs –
Roseleigh Osborn –
Scott Lanier – Lisa’s Cousin –
Sharon Blalock–
Shaelyn – Jill’s Friend
Shannon Golden –
Sheila Simmons Cousin –
Todd Bailey –
Todd Roberts –
Tom Witcher –
Wanda Galanti –