Pastoral Vision (5)

Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places… Ephesians 1.15-20

Every believer has some vision of Jesus as He sits at the right hand of glory. As John Owen explained in Christologia, this is inevitable, and it can be a very good thing. The clearer our vision of Jesus, and the more we contemplate that vision, the greater is the likelihood that we will be transformed into that same image.

Clarity of vision leads to greater mercy and grace toward the people we are called to serve.

This is how, Augustine (354-430) pointed out, we grow in love for Jesus and improve love for our neighbors, including those who oppose us: “Here [meditating on Jesus] [the shepherd] eagerly exercises [he means stimulates] the love of his neighbor and perfects himself in it; and now, filled with hope and fortified in strength, when he arrives at the love of his enemy he ascends to…where he cleanses that eye through which God may be seen, in so far as He can be seen by those who die to the world as much as they are able” (On Christian Doctrine).

The vision of Jesus convicts us of sin and leads us to cry out for mercy and grace for our time of need. Thus we grow in love for Jesus and, at the same time, improve love for our neighbors, and even for our enemies. And as we practice the love which flows from the vision of Jesus, this brings even more clarity to the eye of the heart, so that we can see the pure vision of our exalted King even more clearly.

Studying God’s Word to gain more clarity in our vision of Christ is a spiritual and mystical endeavor. Augustine is merely describing his own experience. Reading, studying, and meditating on God’s Word are for the purpose of seeing Jesus with the eye of the heart, knowing Him better, and loving Him more. Thus, His love increases in us, and we have more love for the people to whom God sends us each day.

Resources for Shepherds
Men, our March Kingdom Conversation will be on the topic, “Practicing the Kingship of Jesus.” This is what the pagans in Thessalonica insisted the Christians were doing. They didn’t “practice” the faith everyone else did, whether of the ancient gods or in the cult of the emperor. They “practiced” Jesus as King. And they turned their world rightside-up for Him (Acts 17.1-8). Are we practicing the Kingship of Jesus? Our guide for this Conversation (though it is not required) is my book, The Kingship of Jesus (you can order a copy by clicking here). We’ll be gathering on Thursday, March 28, at 8:00 pm Eastern. You can sign up by sending me an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. I’ll send you some questions and exercises to work on in preparation for the Conversation. Limited to 18 men, so don’t wait to sign up.

Everything comes from Jesus, is sustained by and consists in Jesus, and must return to Jesus for His glory. This involves everything in our lives and everything we might study or learn. Our book, Know, Love, Serve, shows how all learning is Christocentric or it is incomplete. Learning is a circle and requires a set of skills and disciplines to help us know, love, and serve Jesus with greater power and joy. Order your copy of Know, Love, Serve, either in book form (click here) or free PDF (click here).

From the Celtic Revival
We’re following Patrick’s account of his ministry in his Confession and Letter Against the Soldiers of Coroticus. You can follow the remaining installments in Patrick’s story by subscribing to Crosfigell. Update your subscriptions or start a new one by clicking here.

Patrick knew that everything he had accomplished was only by the grace of God:

Because of this, for all that He bestowed
on me, and all the kindnesses He showed
me, I’ll repay Him with my life, though there
is nothing I can say, no promise dare
hope to fulfill, unless He gives to me
the power to do it. Let the Savior see
into my inner being: For greatly I
desire that I might drink His cup and die
for Him, as others have who loved Him. So
may God permit that all of those who know
His Name because of me, be never lost
to me. And though my testimony cost
my very life, I pray that He may give
me strength, for Him to persevere and live,
until my dying day.

 - Patrick, Confession

Patrick could rightly say with Paul, “For me to live is Christ” (Phil. 1.21). His kindness, grace, power, and Presence are the sustaining realities of our lives.

Want to learn about more of the great leaders of the Celtic Revival? You can download the PDF of our book, Lives of Irish Saints, by clicking here. For an overview of the Celtic Revival, download the PDF book, The Celtic Revival: A Brief Introduction (click here).

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.