Vectored Vision for 2011

The Vision for 2011

God has given each of us an individual calling.  In 2011 we are called to “Just Do it.”  We are called to leave fear, doubt, and excuses behind and be the men and women that God means for us to be.

The Scripture behind the Vision

  In November, God started to speak to me about the need for us, as young adults, to seek His vision for us in 2011.  In response to God's call, small group changed.  Instead of making our way through a biblical study or a book, small group became a time for prayer and meditation (aka waiting on God).  For me personally I began to dig deeper into God's Word: looking at scripture, watching and listening to sermons, and continually asking that God open up His will for us.  About midway through November, God showed up in a big way at our small group meeting.  The word that God gave me for that night was "To do or not to do."  

To Do or Not to Do

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

“Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

John 2:1-5

  To begin with let me just say, what an awesome part of scripture.  Now let me take you a chapter back and set this scripture up.  In John 1:32-34, Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit when John the Baptist baptized him.  Now here we are at a wedding in Galilee.  The scripture says that Jesus' mother was there and Jesus was invited with his disciples.  
    To understand the significance of this scripture let me fill you in on some Jewish culture in regards to weddings.  In the Jewish culture a wedding last a week and usually only family are invited.  This tells us that Jesus was among family, which is further supported by Mary's concern about the wine running out.  So Jesus is among his relatives.
   In verse 4, Jesus asks Mary, "Woman, why do you involve me?"  Now it is normal for a mother to look to her son to help solve a family problem but in this instance Jesus knew what Mary was really asking for.  She wasn't asking him to run down to the ancient 7-11 and get more wine, she wanted him to be the man he was born to be.  Jesus' question then makes perfect sense with the rest of scripture.  Jesus was always asking people questions to test their faith.  In Matthew 15:21-28, Jesus told the Canaanite woman, "It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs" to test her faith.  When she answered, “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table” she was given what she needed because of her tenacious faith.  In the same way Mary's tenacious faith was shown when she looked to the servants and said "Do whatever he tells you" v. 5.  
    This "Do whatever he tells you" from verse 5 struck me and God etched it on my heart.  As we daily make our will submit to the will of God we also need to be willing to do whatever he tells us.  

The Payoff

 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:22-25

   This scripture is pretty self explanatory about doing what God says but I want to zero in on the last verse.  Verse 25 says, "But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do."  The word "blessed" in this scripture comes from the Greek word "makarios" which is actually translated as happy.  You want the secret to happiness, there it is.  Do what God wants you to do and guess what, God promised you will be happy doing it.  

Blessed is the one

  who does not walk in step with the wicked

or stand in the way that sinners take

  or sit in the company of mockers,

but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,

  and who meditates on his law day and night.

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,

  which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither—

  whatever they do prospers.

Psalm 1:1-3

   In this scripture God tells us that not only will we be happy if we do what he tells us but our endeavors will prosper.  Knowing this why wouldn't you do God's will?  In John 2, the servants did not know what Jesus was going to do.  He had never performed a miracle, so why follow his instructions.  Fast forward to present day, we know Jesus' miracles and we know Jesus is the son of God.  So again, why don't we just do what God tells us?      

  For 2011, God really impressed upon me that this would be the year that we just do it.  It being whatever he tells us.