Oswald Chambers says, “It is essential to practise the walk of the feet in the light of the Vision” (MyUtmostForHisHighest 3/11)

Often we clearly hear God, but find the actuality of the action hard, so we adjust.

Paul is giving his personal testimony to King Agrippa and Governor Festus in Acts 26. Paul talks about meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus. God doesn’t always give a “life call” at the Salvation Call, but he does here. I say, “Salvation Call” because this was the day Paul recognized and received it, but certainly God was speaking to Paul all of his life. He had been studying the Scripture and anticipating the Messiah, then when Jesus came and Paul heard of Him, at first he rejected.

But this day, he heard and part of the Salvation Call was the Mission declared and the Vision to be strived toward.

• The Vision was a People of God, not just Israel, but from every nation.

There was here a Vision, a Mission, and Promised Provision.

God’s Kingdom was for everyone who would believe. That wasn’t new. Israel was to be a light. Zechariah prophesied that other nations would come and say, “Let us go with you…” That’s always been what God was doing, his vision, to be fully experienced in Heaven “every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne” (Rev7:9)

The Mission for Paul then was to be a “servant and a witness of what you have and will see” v17 He was called to the Gentiles v18 I’m sending you to them to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light from the power of satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.“

That was his mission in the Vision of God. His mission was not just to go to the ends of the earth and rescue the people of Israel and point them to their Messiah, but to go and bring IN the rest of the world.

The Mission was hard – “Ok Lord, I think I misheard you… I got beat up and left for dead, let’s adjust this.” NO – If we heard God, then God knew the challenges and always makes Provision for His Vision and our Mission in it.

v16 So get up and Stand on your feet I have appeared for this purpose to appoint you

In our service to the Lord there are always “God parts” and “Our Parts”. Get Up and Stand… with the understood, “GO” – I’m sending you to them

Henry Blackaby said, “you can’t STAY where you are and GO with God”

My “go” and your “go” may be different, but when God says “go” – he is always saying “come WITH me” and we can’t stay where we are, as we are.

Then the Provision – Then his Provision – “I will rescue you from your people and from the Gentiles”. Your people and the Gentiles – often the battle is internal and external in the Mission for the Vision.

v19 So then, I was not disobedient to the Heavenly Vision.

Disobedience can be passive or Aggressive, omission or commission; if we fail to go when he sent or fail to do what he says, both are disobedience.

Paul says, instead of disobedience, I preached in Damascus first… then Jerusalem… all Judea, and to the Gentiles.

What did he preach? v20 Repent and Turn to God – do works worthy of repentance. Too often we make repentance easy, less than actual repentance. Repentance is an “About Face” – and it is TOWARD GOD – not toward me. We aren’t asking people to become like us, but to come to Jesus and allow him to be Lord and transform us into his image.

Matthew 3:8 Produce fruit consistent with Repentance

That Message got Paul in trouble – v21 for this reason the Jews tried to kill me

And yet… Provision – v21 to this day I have had help from God, and I stand and testify.

And as he was saying all of this, Festus (Roman Governor / Gentile) Shouted: You’re out of your mind Paul! Ha! Even a non-Christian says, “you’re nuts”. But Paul quickly responds with a NO – “I’m speaking words of truth and good judgment

• The Message of Repentance toward God is always Truth

• If you are following the Plan of God for the Purpose of God in the Power of God to the Praise of God, the only crazy thing is not to position ourselves on our feet Doing That

“The Only way to be obedient to the heavenly Vision is to give “Our Utmost for His Highest” – that’s what Oswald Chambers says in this namesake devotion. He continues, “by continually and resolutely recalling the vision… though it tarry, wait for it… live in the inspiration of it until it accomplishes itself. We get so practical that we forget the vision”

We are often so focused on “have we checked the box?” “Is it here yet?” “I don’t see it.”

No, what is the Vision? What is our Mission? Do THAT and seeing will come in due time! The seeing is in the doing and will come into being long before we notice it.