Expectation

Expectation - the act or state of expecting : anticipation <in expectation of what would happen.


Expectation is the thing that comes along as we grow.  For everyone, the time is different and isn't related in any specific way.  As we look back on the lives of those who have gone before us we can see in all of them, determination.


The Old and New Testaments are full of examples.  Christ's church - beginning with the Apostles moving through today, is not lacking in examples.  We can and will point out examples from scripture and church history.  However, we must remember that what takes place today will one day be discussed as historical to future generations.


So much has and is happening in our Lord's church.  God is still working out HIS Holy plan of reconciliation for all mankind.  While the cannon's of His Word are closed, God our Father isn't done.  His message still goes forward through us!  Since Christ's ascension and until His return, we have been and are living in  exciting times.  His church waits and has been waiting for HIS return.


Christ gave examples of waiting expectantly for His return, for God to move and work through our lives.  We can trace people all the way back through the Old Testament who've been given a task, a mission or signs to look for and they've worked, waited or moved....expectantly.


Abraham, moved in faith to a land foreign to himself and family.  He waited for a promised heir to be born.  In just these two different examples, whether waiting or moving he did so expectantly and in faith.


Noah endured ridicule in his journey building the ark with his sons.  Faith that God would cause rain to fall, even though "rain" was something new.  They went on building as they expected God to be faithful to HIS word.


In captivity, the children of Israel believed the prophets and expected God's personal intervention so they could be freed from their bondage.  During their times of captivity, they work for those holding them in bondage and their captors prospered.


Expectation was woven into the fabric of their lives.  Not the expectation of man, but of God.  What about the three Hebrew's, Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego?  Their expectation began with a step of faith.  That God would honor and protect them as they held to their belief that the kings' best food and drink wasn't in their best interest.  As they stood on their faith and trusted God, so did their expectation that God would prove HIMSELF to be the only God.  They expected that whether they lived or died in the fiery furnace, God would reign show Himself the God of all.


Fast forward to the disciples.  Before Christ ascended, He instructed the disciples to wait for the promised Holy Spirit.  That the Holy Spirit would be with them (and us) in His absence.  Trusting Christ and having faith, they stayed together and prayed, expecting that the Holy Spirit would indeed come as promised.


We will continue this topic..... For now, let's examine ourselves to see if we're living today and everyday in expectation.  The expectation that as we move and grow closer to our Father through Jesus, are we expecting to know more of Him in our life?  Are we expecting HIS presence, power and peace?  Are we expecting HIM to lead us in this life as we've given our life completely to HIM?


Blessings and Peace
~Robert