Christ the Expectation

As human beings we tend to have many expectations. Those expectations are dangerous when they come from our own desires to have what we want, when we want, the way we want.

When an expectation comes through the desire of things that pertain to this world, it is the beginning of turning from faith. James identified this as lust and called it the place where sin is conceived. James 1:14.

I said the beginning of turning from faith because Romans 14:23 explains that what ever does not come from faith is sin. Since sin is concieved through lust, then lust becomes the destroyer of faith.

Furthermore, because of our expectations of others, or their expectations of us, we may find ourselves listening to incorrect counseling which will also cause us to abandon our faith unknowingly.

The only expectations that should matter to a child of God, are the expectations of God. His expectations of us are reasonable, just, righteous, and true.

God's expectations can be found in the teachings of Jesus Christ, which are found in the New Testament four gospels of the Christian Holy Bible.

As disciples of Jesus, we have to learn to limit our expectations to his words. According to Peter in John 6:68, the words of Christ are the words of eternal life. These are the same words Jesus said were not his own words but God's words, in John 6:16.

The very first expectation God has for us is to believe him. If we don't believe God, we won't be able to please him. Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please him, because whoever comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him".

So you see, we must believe that God exists, but no only that he exists, but that he shows favor to those who seek to fulfil his expectations. If we believe God, then we believe the testimony God gave concerning his Son, Jesus.

1 John 5:10 says, "He that believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself: he that does not believe God has made him a liar, because he doesn't believe the record God gave of his Son". 1 John 5:11 goes on to say, "And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son".

For the true disciple, Christ must become the expectation. By our faith, we understand him to be the perfect will of God, which destroys the works of the devil and allows us to fulfil the expectations God has for us.

Focus on Jesus. Amen.