June 22

“So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.”    —ACTS 26:19

Perhaps we have received a vision from heaven. We are energized by it. It is something that will benefit others, and with God’s agenda at heart, has an eternal dimension. What happens next?

When Paul presented his case before King Agrippa and the Roman governor, he first described how he had met with Jesus on the Damascus road, and was told he would preach the Gospel to both Jews and Gentiles. Paul, formerly known as ‘Saul’, stated, “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.” What did Paul do after his vision? He immediately started preaching in Damascus, then for a period of time sought solitude in Arabia, but it was up to 14 years later before he realized his vision. It was not until he was in the church at Antioch that the Holy Spirit said, “set apart for me Barnabas and Saul…” (Acts 13:2). 

The key to discerning God’s guidance is not becoming skilled in discerning His will, but in walking humbly with God, which is what Paul did in the interim years. Abraham was given a vision of a nation that would descend from him and from that nation, the Seed that would bless the world. Twenty-five years later, Isaac, his promised son was born. Joseph, a man who walked intimately with God, had a vision of his brothers bowing down to him. Twenty-two years later that vision became a reality. Moses, at 40 years old, had a vision of saving his people from Egyptian captivity, and 40 years later that came into being.

God is never in a hurry. When we receive a vision from Him, the best thing we can do is tuck it away, and get on with our lives. Mary held the world’s greatest secret for thirty years, and treasured what she knew in her heart. That’s what we need to do with our visions. God will carve the path and accomplish His purpose in His time. A vision from heaven will absolutely have a life of its own. We do not have to make it happen.  

One of the wonderful works of the Holy Spirit, as proclaimed on the day of Pentecost, is that, “Your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams” (Acts 2:17). What this means is that the dreams of the elderly look to a future they are too old to partake in, but the young have visions they will partake in, and both the dreams of the old and visions of the young are implanted in us in harmony with God’s will. The Holy Spirit is always forward looking, and God’s divine purpose becomes manifested in His visions for us.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, grant me the patience to wait and depend upon You in bringing a vision You have given me to fruition. Thank You, Lord. 

TO REFLECT UPON: Have I received a vision I have tucked away?