John 4:35 – “Do you not say that after four months comes the harvest? behold, I say to you, Lift up your eyes, and look at the fields, which have turned white and have long been ready for the harvest.”

I want to draw something out of the annals of trivia housed in my brain. It was something that happened decades ago in Los Angeles, California.  The L.A. Chamber of Commerce offered a prize of $500 for the best slogan submitted for their city’s campaign.  A mother of three children won with this slogan, “Vision to See, Faith to Believe, Courage to Do.”

If you take the time to dissect and examine that slogan you will find some incredibly powerful truth embodied in it.  I believe that this is the need of the hour for God’s people and His church.  We need Vision, Faith, and Courage.  Vision to see, faith to believe, and courage to do.

I believe that it is vital that we develop those three things in today’s church.

VISION TO SEE.

For me, one of the most perplexing problems in much of the church is the lack of vision.  Had the early church been devoid of vision, like many modern-day churches and leaders, the Church would have died in its infancy.  The apostle Thomas said, “Except I see, I will not believe.”  Much of today’s church says, “Except I see, I will not do.”

Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law.”  The KJV and others use the word perish.  I believe that it is vital that someone reveals the truth or people perish.  It is vital that someone articulate the vision or people will never become committed to it. They will go in their separate directions rather than becoming a unity, an army, a family, or a body.  A candle has little value if it is hidden under a bushel and eyes are of little value if there is no vision.

Reconsider the text verse John 4:35, please.  We need vision to see what needs to be done.  Preachers frequently urge people to work for the LORD but fail to tell them what needs to be done or even why.  What needs to be done?  One aspect is our Commission to take the Good News (Gospel) to the world.  We are promised that God’s Truth will set people free!  Truth liberates deception and falsehood enslaves. That is part of destroying the works of the devil and seeing the Kingdom of God come upon the earth.

My heart’s cry is that God’s people will awaken, realize the need, and catch the vision of the Body of Christ.  Each member is important just like each member of our physical bodies is important.  All members are not equal in ability or function, but all have a purpose and if the body is to be all it can be, each member must fulfill its purpose.  You are important to the Body.

Let me make a statement that some may disagree with – “Your Church’s spirituality depends on you.”  A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.  A battle plan is effective only if all the soldiers do their job at the prescribed time and in the prescribed way. 

Let me offer another that may not be received – “Your Church’s effectiveness depends on you.”  Please understand, that I am not saying you as separate from the Holy Spirit. If each member of the local church does what God has designed and called them to do, their community will be reached with the gospel.  I pray that God will open our eyes to help us to have Vision to See what needs to be done and be willing to do it. 

We also need to see what is being done.  If I can see what needs to be done and what is being done, it is easy for me to know what I can do.  When God spoke to Isaiah the prophet He asked, “Who will go?  Who can I send?”  Isaiah shouted, “Here am I, send me!”  You do not need to volunteer for every task but if you have the ability and gifts to fulfill that need, then Why Not You?

I will address this more in the next devotional.

God bless you as you experience Vision to See!