Daily Jewel

by   Pastor J.T. Carnell,  McAlester, OK

Good Morning Everyone...Looking forward to a great day in Christ!

Received a note from Dawn last night:  Her father was taken to the hospital.  Please keep him lifted in prayer today.  Barbara Shirley received some good news regarding her health!  PTL!!

I am receiving several notes regarding the Ashes to Fire beginning tomorrow.  Many are excited about the journey and I rejoice with that! 

One note regarding tomorrow night's service:  I would like to encourage everyone to be a part of the service as we usher in the beginning of Lent.  THERE WILL BE activities for the younger children provided by Dianne:  primarily for those in preschool, kindergarten but I would like to encourage the older children to be in the service so they can experience what God can do when His people choose to work and worship together for His purpose.  I know this is new for many of us and I am hoping for it to be the means by which God works mightily through us in the weeks to come!

Here is today's message.  God bless you all!

“I’ll Take Vision, Please”  

“As I stood at the window of my house looking out through the shutters…” – Proverbs 7:6 (MSG)

Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint.”

(Proverbs 29:18 RV)

 “There is a difference between an ideal and a vision.

An ideal has no moral inspiration; a vision has.”

Oswald Chambers (My Utmost for His Highest)

It would appear by casual observation that verse 6 listed above would have no spiritual meaning or depth—that it is just a lead-in to what is to come.  I would beg to differ, however, for it appears to me that Solomon always has something in mind and in this case it is looking at how so many live their lives—often without purpose or vision.

We will pass by this way again I am sure but for now let us go ahead and make the case for seeing beyond the now—beyond simply living for the moment and working toward something with a bigger purpose and meaning.

If I had to choose between embracing a vision and embracing an ideal, I’ll take vision. As Oswald Chambers observed, “When once we lose sight of God, we begin to be reckless, we cast off certain restraints, we cast off praying, we cast off the vision of God in little things, and begin to act on our own initiative.”

                        I have known people who enthusiastically held to their ideals but who rarely did anything else worth mentioning. They argue their positions on theology and level harsh criticism against any who disagree with them. They pull their teenagers out of attending the church of their choice because the pastor uses a translation of the Bible that is different than the one they prefer. The late Edward John Carnell (no relation that I am aware of) called this type of thinking “the cultic mind.”

                        Ideals are important. They represent our goals, our principles, and our sense of values. But they may or may not represent a vision given to us by God. They may represent our culture, but they may not be supported by Scripture. I like the rendering of Proverbs 29:18 as recorded in The Message:

“If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves;

But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.”

I want to be more than just a simple witness of life but rather a witness to life.  The true life that God gives and that takes more than just casual observance or simple ideals—but a vision of something better.   I long and desire to be where God is and thankfully He wants me to be where He is.  Since He remains constant it means opening my eyes to see (ergo, vision) the life He has in store.  That is where I am headed.  Let’s begin this journey and let’s travel together!