Clarifying Vision

Most of us are familiar with Proverbs 29.18 that says,Where there is no vision, the people perish:
Prov 29:18.  Go to almost any leadership or pastoral conference and eventually you will hear this verse or at least hear the word "vision".  Vision is important.  In fact I would say that if we are going to be leaders with any credibility we must have vision.  But in our church culture today we have missed a very critical truth.  We are instructed, encouraged even berated that we must get our leadership team together, have a dream session and together determine the vision for our church.  There is just one problem with that advice.  Vision does not come from committees, teams or even dreaming!  It comes from God.  If we look at another translation of Proverbs 29.18 it may gives us a better understanding of what vision is.
 Without revelation people run wild, but one who keeps the law will be happy.
Prov 29:18 (HCSB)
Vision comes from God's revelation to us.  If we are quiet and stop our dreaming we will hear from the Lord and He will give us His vision.  Notice the mention of Law.  Vision will spring out of our communion with God in the Word.  So next time you hear a  guru tell you to form a committee, perhaps it would be wise to first consult a committee of three: Father, Son & Holy Spirit!

Grace for Leading

¹⁴ and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.¹⁵ It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. ¹⁶ Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. ¹⁷ Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 1.14-17 (NASB)

Paul proclaims that God's grace was more abundant.  Have you ever asked what grace and leadership have in common?  I have held a simple belief for many years that I am not in ministry because of my merits but because of God's grace.
Paul obviously held this view because he states that he was the foremost of sinners that Christ came to save.  Paul also states that because of God's grace in his life he has been given mercy to show God's patience and usefulness of sinners. 
Pastor/leader be careful not to present yourself as something you are not.  We put on our "holier than thou" facade and parade ourselves around as so much more than we are.  Remember as Paul did that we are sinner saved by grace to demonstrate His goodness.  Those we lead must see that we too are human and struggle and that we have not yet arrived.  Strive for holiness yes but stop pretending you are something that your not: PERFECT!