08/11/19 - Vision Sunday

Perhaps you've heard Proverbs 28:19 (from the King James version) quoted in Christian leadership circles, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." This has become an inspiration in the church growth movement and widely used to support the importance of painting a compelling portrait of church direction. However, the verse refers to a literal vision from God. The kind of vision that Old Testament prophets received. The ones that come in the night through dreams or spoken audibly by God Himself. This is the full verse from the English Standard version, "Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law." Quoting the entire verse reveals a lot. Where there is no prophetic vision, or word from God, then the people do not have direction. The law is prophetic vision and when it is kept there is blessing. In other words, apart from God's Word we have no direction. This Sunday is Vision Sunday. It's a time for us to celebrate what God has done and what we trust he will continue to do through Illuminate. But we must never forget that God has already given us the vision for what we do, who we are and what we are to become. God continues his faithfulness to us and it's good for us to push the pause button and reflect on where we've been and what's ahead. I am very excited to share the plans to expand God's Kingdom and as always, the best part is that we get to do it together!