“For
you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich,
yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty
might become rich. And here is my judgment about what is best for you
in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but
also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your
eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it,
according to your means” (2 Corinthians 8:9-11).
Do
you have a vision from God that you believe with all your heart? Is
it something into which you have poured your heart and soul? Perhaps
you not seen the work of your hands bring you closer to that vision.
Perhaps you have become weary because of constant struggle to attain
that vision. You were the one to whom God imparted the vision. You
were the first to get it started. “Now finish the work” Paul
writes, “according to your means.” You can only finish to the
best of your ability according to what you have been given. God's
perfect will is for the vision to be completed, but you can't make a
vision happen―even from
all you have done to inspire others to catch your vision. If you give
the work your very best, God will do one of two things. He will bring
it to completion with the support you have around you, or He will
give you another means to achieve it.
Don't
ever forget that the vision does not belong to you. It belongs to
Him. You are just a yielded vessel for Him to use for His purpose.
His vision is fluid. It is not etched in concrete. You can have a
mental picture of how a vision should pan out, but that is just your
human conception. His thoughts are greater than yours, and His ways
go beyond your human understanding. The vision He has imparted to you
is only a part of His greater purpose. It is greater that you can
ever imagine. He gives you a certain vision to be your focus and your
goal―to anchor you.
Whatever He has imparted to you, realize He owns it. You are His
steward who does what He directs, and you are His steward who never
forgets that it all belongs to Him. You are not the only one with a
vision from God. The visions that He imparts to His children are
ultimately meant to bring us together in His ultimate purpose―to
prepare hearts for His return. You are part of God's greater plan. Do
whatever you can to work toward your vision with whatever resources
you have, and work with just as much enthusiastic purpose that you
had when you first were inspired.
The
sacrifice of Jesus Christ has made you rich in purpose. Although He
could have had anything―although
He had every powerful resource at His bidding―although
He was perfectly God and without sin, He became poor for your sake.
He humbled Himself, and gave His life as an offering for your sin so
that you might be free and rich in grace. You know the sustaining
power of His grace. Now believe in what He has given you. The vision
He has imparted to you is just as rich as when it was first realized.
Your life now is sacrificed to His purpose. When He is ready, you
will know with certainty that you have completed what He inspired
within your heart.
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