WATCHWORD:
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Proverbs 29:18
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
Meditation:
Be Thou My Vision
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
naught be all else to me, save that thou art –
thou my best thought, by day or by night;
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
“Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart.” What does that mean? Read again the Scripture passage. That first part is pretty harsh. No vision = people perish. Yikes! We had better get a vision.
The hymn writer seems to be saying something slightly different. It seems like it’s a prayer, asking God to be his vision, vision of his heart. Vision of his commitment.
Oswald Chambers makes this observation on that point: “There is a difference between holding on to a principle or discipline, and having a vision. Discipline does not come from moral inspiration, but a vision does.
In other words, where there is vision, there is also a life of honesty and integrity, because the vision gives us the moral incentive. Translation: When you put God in charge of all parts of your life, there is a spirit in us that is fresh and vital.
Having said that, how do we live that? This is pretty serious stuff. The Hebrew word for vision is ‘Hazon’ which means God’s Revelation. Here is another version of that passage: Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.
Cutting to the chase – Basically, the passage tells us that without God’s vision we have chaos, we have no restraint. The standard of life becomes our whim, our feelings, our arrogance, our pride, our self-importance. Without God’s vision in our heart, we don’t have God.
Now read the second passage. That is God’s vision for you. That is the vision that you pray for within you. Read it again. Plaster it on your forehead if you need to. Memorize it, pray it, trust it. But, most of all, Believe it. Amen.
Bulletin Board:
Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord.
Thou my great Father; thine own may I be,
thou in me dwelling and I one with thee.
Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise;
thou mine inheritance, now and always;
thou and thou only first in my heart,
high King of heaven, my treasure thou art.
High King of heaven, my victory won,
may I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be my vision, O Ruler of all.
Closing Prayer:
God of the universe, on this day You rested from Your labors of creation. Thanks and praise to You for the marvels of creation that surround me. With the Psalmist I say, what is man that You are mindful of him in the Son of Man that You care for him? Yet You do and I am ever grateful. May this be a day for me to rejuvenate, rest, and be refreshed. You created me for purpose. Help me to live for You alone with a life that is pleasing in Your sight; in Jesus name I pray. Amen.
