Year of Vision
“And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new” (Revelation 21:5a)
by W. David O. Taylor
Welcome to 2022: The Year of Vision. Our focus this year will be on God’s vision and promise to make “all things new”. At the end of the Book of Revelation, God paints a picture of a new heaven, a new earth, a new Jerusalem, and a new Eden. God is in the business of making all things new and invites us to be a partner in the renewal of all things. The mission of the Northwestern Ohio Synod culminates in the renewal and vision that God promises to bring. “Sent by the Crucified and Risen Jesus to Make Disciples, Equip Leaders, Strengthen Parishes, and Nurture New Communities for the Renewal of Northwestern Ohio and the World”.
One of my favorite Bible verses related to the promise of God’s vision is recorded at the end of the Book of Revelation. The Bible verse is Revelation 21:5a, which will serve as our 2022 Year of Vision Memory Verse. “And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new” (Revelation 21:5a). I encourage you to memorize Revelation 21:5a and open your eyes to notice the places in your community where God is doing a new thing. And then allow the Holy Spirit to open your heart to love the new thing that God is doing. And finally, open your hands to fully engage and partner with God to bring what is new in the community to life. In partnering with God to renew the community and the world, you will discover your own transformation. For it is in the renewing, that we are renewed.
Let us pray, Almighty God, by our baptism into the death and resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ, you turn us from the old life of sin. Grant that we who are reborn to new life in him may live in righteousness and holiness all our days, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Evangelical Lutheran Worship pg. 86)
As we begin 2022: The Year of Vision, I invite you to begin with two simple practices related to God’s Word.
- Memorize Scripture: “And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new”. Revelation 21:5a is our Year of Vision Memory Verse.
- Read Scripture: Join a host of others across the Northwestern Ohio Synod as we focus on Poets and Prophets! This week we are working our way through the Psalms. Please click here to access the 2022 Daily Bible Reading Guide.
Lifelong Learning
"For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding" (Proverbs 2:6). One of the guiding principles that we pursue as a staff in the Northwestern Ohio Synod is the principle of lifelong learning. As a learning community devoted to Christian...
Solitude and Motivation
"Then I got up during the night, I and a few men with me; I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. The only animal I took was the animal I rode.I went out by night by the Valley Gate past the Dragon's Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I...
Prayers and Plans
"Then the king said to me, "What do you request?" So, I prayed to the God of heaven. Then I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor with you, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my ancestors' graves, so that I may...
Practicing Prayer
Dear Friends in Christ, "Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving." (Colossians 4:2) In Luke chapter 11, Jesus teaches his disciples to pray, "When you pray, say, Father, hallowed by your name..." In the Book of Acts chapter 3, Peter and John...