As I was doing my devotion reading time this morning, which I am reading from Ephesians in the Bible and Oswald Chambers "My Utmost for His Highest", the question was asked: Do you know a man of vision? How about a man with the vision of God?
The passage goes onto say, "A man with the vision of God is not devoted to a cause or to any particular issue; he is devoted to God Himself. You always know when the vision is from God because of the inspiration that comes from it; things come with largeness and tonic to the life because everything is energized by God."
Well, I must say the first person to come to mind after reading this was Pastor Michel who I was introduced to in Africa this late winter. His really big faith in God made him obedient to the vision of a 30,000 student Christian University in Burkina Faso, Africa. And when we got there to master plan and design the campus, Pastor Michel sat down with us and painted the vision. It was large, it was energized, and it was inspiring! It was inspiring to the point that we jumped right in to carry out that vision. This vision was not from Pastor Michel, but from God.
During our work there we felt ourselves not only being devoted to Pastor Michel and the Village of Hope; and not only to the children who would some day attend this university, but we found ourselves devoted to God. Because this vision was bigger than all of us.
So the question I am asking myself this morning and you should ask yourself also; what is the vision I am committing myself to? Is it a cause or a particular issue? Or is it a vision from God that is so big, so inspiring, so energized that you can't do it alone. That you will need help from God and from others.
The reading in Chambers book ended with, "Our reach must exceed our grasp." This is telling me I can not become satisfied with what I have attained, and the cause or issue that I am striving for. No, I must endure and receive power from the One who gives me vision. My reach must exceed my grasp. My vision must come from God.
Win4Him!
Karl
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Karl! I just went to Burkina Faso in November and met a Pastor Michel there. He is the head of Assemblies churches in Burkina, but I don't think he was when you were there since he was just made the leader recently. I wouldn't have thought anything of it because I'm sure there are lots of "Pastor Michels" there but I think he was involved in a village type thing helping children - it may have been called Village of Hope. Anyways, I stumbled onto your site via Google Images (looking for a good photo showing where Burkina is) and started reading your blog. I thought it would be neat if that Pastor Michel is the same one I met. I don't remember him talking about the University for 30,000 students though... just a shot in the dark. Is the Pastor Michel you met the head of the Assemblies of God churches now?
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Nathan
nhauger@gmail.com