Commercials

In Columbia, SC there's a man that owns several car lots - Jim Hudson. His family are great people. I was riding down the road and I heard one of his commercials, for his newest car lot endeavor - Jim Hudson Ford Town. The name is interesting, but the "saying" at the end of the commercial was the best!

"If you want to be the biggest Ford dealer in town, you don't build another lot, you build a town!"

Wow! Think about the truth of this. What the commercial was essentially teaching - without even knowing it - was the importance of VISION!

A lot of times we prepare for where we are, while thinking of where we want to be. When in all reality, we should prepare for where we COULD be, and think of where we were! As a pastor, it's easy not to prepare for the next place in the vision. It's easy to get so consumed with where I am, that where I'm going is overlooked. For the sake of humanity I'm glad Noah didn't think about this.

In one of the oldest stories in the Bible, we see vision portrayed. Noah was told something by God, and instead of not preparing for the next area of his life and ministry, he prepared... even when it made no sense. When others couldn't comprehend or grasp, he had to prepare. Why? His vision exceeded his current state.

Why in the ministry do we often cease to prepare for what we're striving for, and we instead make comfortable where we are. Being comfortable wasn't in the cards when God called us. Here's the 3 things I believe we, as visionaries, must do:

1. Figure Out Your Vision: Proverbs 29:18 Stop being close minded, and comfortable. Find your place. Find your belonging. What is YOUR purpose? Don't live off the ideas and concepts of others pastors, ministers, or family members. Allow your vision to be unique, specific, and personal. The only way to do that is to get serious about seeking God's face!
2. Commit To Your Vision: Don't compromise! Compromise is easily justified. I don't care how much money someone will give you, or the support they will offer... Your vision was ENTRUSTED to YOU! Stick with it - be confident in it, and commit to it! People will have a problem and a misunderstanding with your vision - but don't give up on it.
3. Prepare For The Vision: If your vision, as a pastor, is to grow your church numerically or spiritually. (and if it's not what is your vision?) My question would be - what are you doing to prepare for the vision? If you have a vision to build a new church building - what are you doing to prepare for that?

God will not bless laziness. If we have sought God for our vision and our purpose, do not hesitate or become lazy in that. Let Him move in your life, and begin TODAY to be prepared!

Just some thoughts from a fellow pastor...