Knowing What to Say
Habakkuk 2:2-4 says "Then the LORD answered me and said: “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith."
It is an interesting saying, starting with a command. Write the vision and make it plain on tablets. Ok...this is a word for Habakkuk, not for ME, right? Well, yes...and...no. God is not using YOU as a writing prophet in Old Testament times, and as far as I have ever learned, the canon of Scripture is closed, and God isn't giving you a vision and expecting YOU to write Scripture. So, this isn't for you.
Yet...it is. What has been YOUR story? How has your faith changed and developed YOU? Is it just a set of data you agree with, that anyone can research and learn for themselves, or NOT? Or...is it rather YOUR story...an intimate journey of change that God has taken YOU on? If that is true, it is YOUR vision. Should we do any less for the vision God has given US? Shouldn't we write it down, work on it, communicate it to others?
Then the part about making it plain so that he who runs may read it. Some scholars say that the writing is to be BIG- plain, easy to read even if running. Or...simple, so that a runner can voice it with limited wind. Your testimony should be honest, and open, but it can be CLEAR...memorable...effective. You should be able to tell it ANYWHERE, and others should be able to remember it. If it is TOO complicated, with TOO many details, it won't work. Have you thought that out?
Is the story ONLY about you, or does it lead to Christ? Does it call to someone to look to Jesus? Does it show what He has done to help you? The passage talks about the vision coming to pass in its appointed time...does our testimony do that? Does the same Jesus who called to us call THROUGH us to others?
At the end of the passage, it talks about the proud NOT listening to it. Well, it says the proud in their pride, is not upright. In contrast, the just will live by faith. What that means is that there WILL be people who hear God's Word, who see the power of a testimony, and CHANGE. Then there will be others who refuse to listen OR change. In their pride, they see no reason to believe. We cannot make them listen. But we can still tell them the story.
Are you ready?
It is an interesting saying, starting with a command. Write the vision and make it plain on tablets. Ok...this is a word for Habakkuk, not for ME, right? Well, yes...and...no. God is not using YOU as a writing prophet in Old Testament times, and as far as I have ever learned, the canon of Scripture is closed, and God isn't giving you a vision and expecting YOU to write Scripture. So, this isn't for you.
Yet...it is. What has been YOUR story? How has your faith changed and developed YOU? Is it just a set of data you agree with, that anyone can research and learn for themselves, or NOT? Or...is it rather YOUR story...an intimate journey of change that God has taken YOU on? If that is true, it is YOUR vision. Should we do any less for the vision God has given US? Shouldn't we write it down, work on it, communicate it to others?
Then the part about making it plain so that he who runs may read it. Some scholars say that the writing is to be BIG- plain, easy to read even if running. Or...simple, so that a runner can voice it with limited wind. Your testimony should be honest, and open, but it can be CLEAR...memorable...effective. You should be able to tell it ANYWHERE, and others should be able to remember it. If it is TOO complicated, with TOO many details, it won't work. Have you thought that out?
Is the story ONLY about you, or does it lead to Christ? Does it call to someone to look to Jesus? Does it show what He has done to help you? The passage talks about the vision coming to pass in its appointed time...does our testimony do that? Does the same Jesus who called to us call THROUGH us to others?
At the end of the passage, it talks about the proud NOT listening to it. Well, it says the proud in their pride, is not upright. In contrast, the just will live by faith. What that means is that there WILL be people who hear God's Word, who see the power of a testimony, and CHANGE. Then there will be others who refuse to listen OR change. In their pride, they see no reason to believe. We cannot make them listen. But we can still tell them the story.
Are you ready?
Recent
Archive
2025
Categories
no categories
No Comments