Today our nation remembers a man that changed its history forever. Martin Luther King, Jr., an Atlanta native, challenged the racial injustice of his time like no other. Among many accomplishments, Dr. King is remembered for his key leadership role in the Civil Rights Movement, as well as the non-violent protests he assembled.
Dr. King is also known as one of the greatest American orators of all time. His mastery was demonstrated in the iconic “I Have a Dream” speech delivered in Washington D.C. in 1963.
Near the end of the speech, we see his raw imagination unleashed, as he dreams of a different America. He declares eight straight lines beginning with that famous phrase “I have a dream.” The last of those eight lines is as follows…
“I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.”
This is a direct quote from the book of Isaiah in the Old Testament of the Bible (Isaiah 40:4-5).
The most fundamental source for King’s vision was the Bible itself. What captured his heart and mind more than anything was the God of the Bible who stood for justice and love to all. It was King’s relationship with this God that inspired the dream, and empowered him to act with boldness and clarity.
In today’s world, we desperately need Christians dreaming again like Martin Luther King, Jr., rooted in a desire to see God’s glory revealed in all the earth.
Without vision, the people perish (Proverbs 29:18), but with biblical vision, the greatest vision on the planet, the people of God can rise and shine for all to see (Matthew 5:16).
We won’t all be drawn to the same places or causes, but regardless, each of us are ambassadors of God’s plan of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-21). How we flesh that out requires a commitment to His Word, as well as our own imaginative thinking and creativity.
One last word. Dr. King demonstrated the best response to dreaming with God – Acting on it! His words were backed up by actions, as he sought justice in the face of continuous adversity, even up to his own tragic death.
On this MLK holiday and in light of this national hero, I pray that you are inspired to dream with God, reflecting on the ways you are called to bring his redemption to the earth. And Fifty years after his speech, let us still believe that The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.”
What cause has captured your heart so far this year? What are you going to do about it?
