20/20 Vision
Happy New Year Everyone!!! What a beautiful Christmas season it was celebrating our Saviors birth!! I have such excitement for the year of 2020!! God has stirred in me such anticipation for this year!! I sense a strong drive of the Holy Spirit in the direction of our “witness” of Jesus in the earth! What I mean by “witness” is that the authentic Church, the true representatives of Jesus Christ (not churchy people and programs) is going to be recognized by their fruit!! The Bible teaches us that “they’ll know us by our fruit”. Remember… “fruit” refers to christian character (Love, joy, peace, etc…) and WE are “AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST” (2 Corinthians 5:20) reflecting the same character and virtues that our heavenly Father does!
With that said, I wanted to share a few words on Vision. Now, ya’ll know I like to keep things simple so thats what I’m going to do here. (I will always do my best to make sure each time I write the end all is JESUS!!!). Most of us that have spent any time at all in a church the word “vision” brings to mind…. “money drive”. But this is not what I’m referring to. This past Sunday Pastor Mike Kaelber of Grace North Church spoke beautifully about vision in a way that I think all ministers should take note. As he spoke about “vision” and the coming year, interestingly the year is 2020 (I think of 20/20 vision….PERFECT VISION), it bore witness in my heart that setting our “vision” or “goal” for the year shouldn’t merely be something I need to add into my life, I need to change in my life, I need to remove out of my life, and our vision for the new year certainly shouldn’t be about financially giving above and beyond (that should be a given for all children of God!), but vision should be far more simple and certainly far more important than any of that!! What if we simply set our eyes on JESUS …. that He would be the goal of 2020? That our “sights” would be focused on HIM and not losing weight (thats the #1 New Years resolution), finding a mate, landing a higher paying job. Now we all know that 20/20 vision represents perfect vision…. What if your focus (vision) shifted off YOU, what you need to change, improve on, eliminate, and your vision shifted to it’s rightful place …. HIM?! That would mean that the focus is no longer on you and YOUR EFFORTS but on HIM “who freely gives us all things” (Romans 8:32). Remember the scripture tells us in Matthew 6:33, “Seek HIM and HIS righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you”. Doesn’t it make sense that all things would just fall into place if we just let HIM control things? After all, “He is the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). Doesn’t it make sense that when you get your vision straightened out….things become clearer, more defined, you can SEE where your going? Doesn’t it make sense that if we just endeavor to “know HIM” (Ephesians 3:19), focus on HIM, know His ways, that that would set our paths (and adjustments for our lives) for the new year? And doesn’t it make sense that when our vision is correct, our reflection of Christlikeness (fruit) just permeates from our very being? Isn’t this the whole point of being a follower of Jesus… pointing people to HIM?
In setting our goal or adjusting our vision for the new year…. let’s decide together that our focus/vision would be the true and perfect vision (20/20 vision) ….. HIM!!!!
It might be time to get your vision checked!!
Blessings!!
