Friday, March 11, 2011 - Forgetting to Remember

When Abram, Jacob, Samuel, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Amos, Obadiah, Micah, Nahum, Zechariah, Zachariah, Saul/Paul, Ananias, Peter and John received visions from God, they became blinded to everything else but living in the inspiration of that vision.

 "We live by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7

They became blinded to what their senses told them was true but open to what the Holy Spirit could do through them by faith. A vision from God gives us peace and direction.

     *Abram lived to father a nation although the vision took a lifetime to fulfill. 

     *Jacob, alone and hunted, ran into the very house of God (Beth-el) where angels moved between heaven to earth.

     *Samuel, a child living a strange and lonely life, heard his God-Father speak.

     *Isaiah, grieving the loss of the only king he had ever served, saw His God high and lifted up, seated on the only eternal throne and answered His call (Isaiah 6).

     *Paul began fulfilling God's call to preach days after his Damascus Road vision and an later vision changed his traveling itinerary to include the Macedonian region.

"So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds." 

Acts 26:19

    Living inspired by a vision or call from God is one thing, but what happens when we mistake the vision for something we're to accomplish? What happened when people tried to force their God-sent vision into fulfillment? 

*Abram let Sarai talk him into a Plan B that ended all domestic tranquility.

*Rebekah used deceit to "help" God's plan along and ended up causing murderous division between her two sons.

     What happens when we question God's call or His Word?

*Zachariah questioned the vision God sent him in the Holy of Holies and spent 9 months in vocal time out.  
     And, what about when we forget to remember the vision He's given us?
*When Peter forgot to remember the lesson of his vision on the roof in Joppa (Acts 10:9-28), Paul caught him snubbing Gentiles, opposed him to his face and put his reprimand in a letter for all of us to read (Gal. 2:11-13). 
     I don't want to serve as a warning for others by forgetting or compromising Christ-like virtues. I want to be a shining example of living inspired by God's vision and call but recognizing He's the One to fulfill it, not me.

Father, help us never forget to remember the calls and visions You've given each of us. Guide us to live inspired by the visions and calls You give us rather than forcing them into premature fulfillment that causes long-term problems. Teach us how to submit to them and to Your Power to fulfill them. May we never confuse our ideas with Your vision and change our hearts to be on the same page with Your vision. Make us flexible in Your Hands - You are the Potter with the vision of who You want us to be.
"Change my heart, O God, make it ever new. 
Change my heart, O God, make me more like You. 
You are the Potter, I am the clay. 
Mold me and make me. This is what I pray."
In the Name of Jesus whose vision for His church was unity - with the Father, with the Son and with each other.(John 17)

Inspired by My Utmost for His Highest and Jesus Calling

photo from photobucket.com