Daily Devotion with Pastor Tong Liu: Today's Passage

2 Corinthians 12:1-4

I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know - God knows. And I know that this man - whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows - was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.

Paul was a truly humble man. He saw such a great vision, but he kept it to himself for as long as fourteen years! If it happened to us, we couldn't have kept it inside for so long, but we would have told others right away. At that time, he had to prove to the Corinthian church his stature as an apostle, therefore he shared his experience of witnessing the paradise. Paul didn't use first-person, but rather used third-person. The vision carried power and it kept him running without getting frustrated or disappointed. When he was defending himself in Caesarea, he told King Agrippa that "I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven." A person who's used by God must have a vision. The Bible says that "Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint," because a vision can provide us with direction. When Paul praying for his missionary work, he often sought direction on where to preach the gospel; he could have gone anywhere because gospel is needed everywhere, but that was not what God wanted him to do. When he sought and waited for God's will, God gave him the vision of Macedonian who pleaded him to bring the gospel to his people: "Come over to Macedonia and help us." Therefore, Paul went to Macedonia, because he's certain that God wanted them to preach the gospel there, and as soon as he arrived his ministry was very effective.

A vision also gives us motivation. Early church received the Great Commission and it became their motivation for life - they lived and died for it. After they were persecuted, they had to flee from Jerusalem. No matter where they scattered, they preached the gospel wherever they went, and the gospel became widespread. If we want to be used by God, we must first receive a vision from God through deep prayer. When Peter was praying upstairs, he saw a vision God gave him about sharing the gospel with gentiles; when Prophet Habakkuk prayed and waited in his watchtower, he learned God's will; elderly John prayed on the island of Patmos and saw what will happen in the future; when Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, he affirmed him own way to the cross.

Brothers and sisters, are you willing to be someone with a vision? Start praying, keep on praying, fast and pray, and pray all night! Pray until all your reluctance is gone, until there's peace in your heart, and until you understand God's will. Then you will have no fear and be able to proceed courageously. Why don't you start today?

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, I ask that you give us the spirit of deep prayer. Give us a thirsty heart so that we may continue to pray until we experience your work. Also, give us a vision to guide us and become our momentum. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

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