"Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained" Proverbs 29:18.

A Japanese proverb states, "Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare." Vision is monumentally important. When the vision captures our highest hopes and dreams, there is no limit to the energy and commitment given to see the vision become reality. Without vision, initiative and resources are squandered through pointless pursuits.

The first-century church, as we see in the book of Acts, was captivated by vision. It embodied the prophecy of Joel, pronounced by Peter on the day of Pentecost: "'AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,' God says, 'THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND ; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS" (Acts 2:17).

The dream and vision of this first-century church was to declare the good news of the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, and to be a living demonstration of the coming kingdom through personal and corporate lifestyle. Driven by this magnificent vision, they turned their world upside down or, in reality, right side up.

The great movement that burst onto the scene in the first century seems to have lost much of its steam in this age. Church attendance and participation has markedly declined in all denominations in recent years. In this so-called post-modern, post-christian era, the vision seems to be lacking.

I recently read an intriguing book entitled, “Slow Church.” The key premise set forth by the authors is that we “enter into the ecology, economy and ethics of the kingdom of God, where people know each other well and love one another as Christ the church.” It is essentially a call to recapture the vision of the first-century church to cultivate authentic relationships, truly getting to know and love one another, and being a model to a cold, uncaring world.

Whether the local church is traditional church with a building, a home Bible study group, or a hybrid online fellowship, by embracing a kingdom vision such as the church in Acts did, energy and vitality will surely result.

May this vision be our vision.

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