Wednesday, August 25, 2010

expectations

i was on the phone with an eternal sister talking of life
she said 'we cannot have expectations from others, we have no right to expect anything'
it smarted a little. the Truth often does.

in the morning when i met Him this is what i read:
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Philippians 2:1-8 NIV

i started thinking.
in the garden, it was Him alone who prayed as His dearest slept (Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!" Matthew 26).
after His betrayer kissed Him, everyone deserted him and fled (Mark 14).
on the cross About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27).

He had every right to expect his prayer partners to pray. He had every right to expect His twelve dearest to stand with Him. He had every right to expect the betrayer to remain faithful. He had every right to have expectations.
But. He laid them down.
And made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!

we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4).

we have no right.
But. oh how He loves us.
"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Deuteronomy 31).
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen (Philippians 4).
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake (Psalm 23).
For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him (Ephesians 1).
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance (Psalm 32:7-8).

expectations in Him alone.
Thank You, Father. You are more than enough and them some.

5 comments:

  1. Thanks for the great reminder today, sister!!
    It did smart a little, but that's the only way wounds heal, as sweet Jesus is gently reminding me!

    Peace to you sister and may you continue to live out John 15:5!

    Kim

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  2. What a beautiful and truth-filled post! How often we think we DESERVE this or that...really, we only DESERVE to be cast away forever! How precious that the LORD paid it all and HE will never leave us nor forsake us. Have you read the poem "Dying to Self"? It is so applicable to the topic of this post you have written...we must decrease and HE must increase! :)

    Blessings,
    Camille

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  3. Corrie Ten Boom
    DYING TO SELF
    When you are forgotten, or neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you don't sting and hurt with the insult or the oversight, but your heart is happy, being counted worthy to suffer for Christ.
    THAT IS DYING TO SELF
    When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart, or even defend yourself, but take in all in patient, loving silence.
    THAT IS DYING TO SELF
    When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any impunctuality, or any annoyance; when you stand face-to- face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility-and endure it as Jesus endured.
    THAT IS DYING TO SELF
    When you are content with any food, any offering, any climate, any society, any raiment, any interruption by the will of God.
    THAT IS DYING TO SELF
    When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation, or to record your own good works, or itch after commendations, when you can truly love to be unknown.
    THAT IS DYING TO SELF
    When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy, nor question God, while your own needs are far greater and in desperate circumstances.
    THAT IS DYING TO SELF
    When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself and can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart.
    THAT IS DYING TO SELF
    Are you dead yet? In these last days, the Spirit would bring us to the cross.
    "That I may know Him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death." Phil.3:10

    Thanks, Camille :)

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  4. Great poem. My spirit loves it, while my flesh wars against such truth. And so the struggle continues....

    Thank you my dear friend for speaking of the folly of our expectations. It isn't that they are not justified (as you pointed out with Jesus and how He certainly could have justifiably expected so much more from those He loved (s)), but that having them is not prudent.... they will often not be met. And how often do we, ourselves, fail to meet the expectations of others... near or far to our hearts, it matters not. We fail.

    And once again, if the story ended there, well how pitiful. But it started and will end with Him.
    Amen

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