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"Where there is no revelation [or prophetic
vision], the people cast off restraint . . ." - Proverbs 29:18
There is a difference between holding on to a principle and having a vision. A
principle does not come from moral inspiration, but a vision does. People who
are totally consumed with idealistic principles rarely do anything. A person’s
own idea of God and His attributes may actually be used to justify and
rationalize his deliberate neglect of his duty. Jonah tried to excuse his
disobedience by saying to God, “. . . I know that You are a gracious and
merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from
doing harm” ( Jonah 4:2 ). I too may have the right idea of God and His
attributes, but that may be the very reason why I do not do my duty. But
wherever there is vision, there is also a life of honesty and integrity, because
the vision gives me the moral incentive.
Our own idealistic principles may actually lull us into ruin. Examine yourself
spiritually to see if you have vision, or only principles.
Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, Or what’s a heaven for?
“Where there is no revelation [or prophetic vision]. . . .” Once we lose sight
of God, we begin to be reckless. We cast off certain restraints from activities
we know are wrong. We set prayer aside as well and cease having God’s vision in
the little things of life. We simply begin to act on our own initiative. If we
are eating only out of our own hand, and doing things solely on our own
initiative without expecting God to come in, we are on a downward path. We have
lost the vision. Is our attitude today an attitude that flows from our vision of
God? Are we expecting God to do greater things than He has ever done before? Is
there a freshness and a vitality in our spiritual outlook?
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Daily Morning and Evening Devotionals by Spurgeon
Wisdom from the Desert Devotional
Daily Devotional with Oswald Chambers Archives
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