The vision Paul had on the road to Damascus was not a passing emotional experience, but a vision that had very clear and emphatic directions for him. And Paul stated, “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19). Our Lord said to Paul, in effect, “Your whole life is to be overpowered or subdued by Me; you are to have no end, no aim, and no purpose but Mine.” And the Lord also says to us, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go . . .” (John 15:16).
When we are born again, if we are spiritual at all, we have visions of what Jesus wants us to be. It is important that I learn not to be “disobedient to the heavenly vision”—not to doubt that it can be attained. It is not enough to give mental assent to the fact that God has redeemed the world, nor even to know that the Holy Spirit can make all that Jesus did a reality in my life. I must have the foundation of a personal relationship with Him. Paul was not given a message or a doctrine to proclaim. He was brought into a vivid, personal, overpowering relationship with Jesus Christ.Acts 26:16 is tremendously compelling “. . . to make you a minister and a witness . . . .” There would be nothing there without a personal relationship. Paul was devoted to a Person, not to a cause. He was absolutely Jesus Christ’s. He saw nothing else and he lived for nothing else. “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).
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January 24, 2010
Journal Entry for Today-JDV
Every once in a while I find myself searching for faith, hope and or forgiveness. I can become aware that I need more of a spiritual gift or a spiritual awareness; that I lack or am missing some key spiritual gift or ingredient in my life. And then I understand ……
And God says…”Your faith, hope and love come to you in the person of Jesus Christ. You would not just seek out His arm, ear or leg would you? It is the same when you seek out a separate and single component of His love for and from the transformation in your life. You cannot seek just faith or more forgiveness or more of this or more of that at you choosing. It is for the Holy Spirit of God to furnish what you need as you identify and remain connected with Jesus……Seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you.”
Journal 1 24 11 DJR
Good morning Lord. I have a tendency to compare myself with Paul, or other heros of our faith and come up short. But then JD reminded me that all those guys had rough edges too … and that you put the unedited version in the book. Thanks for that. If I only saw the good stuff, I would be overwhelmed by my not so good stuff . you know, Sin. I’m glad Paul said, ” I am determined to know….” It leads me to believe that he had to schedule his days and his time with you … like I do. Or else they just slip away.
As I said, “My eyes are looking to and fro throughout the earth for a man who is wholly mine…” This includes the discipline you are speaking of. In the schedule and in the start of every day .. but then all day long. You aren’t complete in this development… but you are more complete than you once were. The thing is to keep it going, growing… If the relationship is ground zero, the centerpoint of all you do, you will be fine.
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