Expectations

People never cease to amaze me.  They amaze me with their abilities.  They amaze me with their lack of comprehension. People who have walked with the Lord for a long time puzzle me in many ways.  They either have a firm grasp on the spiritual ways of God or they have very little knowledge of who He truly is.

I am not a theological expert but I do know after walking with God for over 4 decades I have learned many things and one of the main things is that we are to serve where the Lord places us and at all times.  I still have much more to learn and do my best to keep my eyes open for what He wants from me.  At this point in my life I should be an active missionary to those around me, not waiting for a missionary to come take care of me.  Jesus told us to be disciples, not to sit around and wait for other to care for us and our needs.  The Lord supplies all our needs and to think others can do that is not what Jesus taught his followers.

Many believers have an expectation that others should be ministering to them yet they minister to no one.  Granted there are seasons and times when others should come along side the person in need but if that person is in their version of "need" day after day, year after year, and those same people are not progressing in their day to day life and their walk with Jesus, there is an issue, a problem.  When someone wallows in self pity and never shows any sign of improvement, why?  Do they expect someone to take care of them and help them through all of the days of their lives?  We are to keep our eyes focused on Jesus and we are to keep serving others in whatever way we can.

'And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. '

Colossians 3:17

'since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. '

Colossians 3:24

'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”'

Matthew 28:19-20

'He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. '

Luke 10:2

Any long time Christian, sitting around year after year moaning "woe is me", will have a heavy price to pay when they stand before the Lord and answer for their life of nothingness and uselessness. Just as the tree that bore no fruit, they will be destroyed and thrown into the fire.

Over and over Jesus taught about the fruit that must comes from the lives of his chosen people.  Those expectantly waiting for Jesus to remove all their burdens and send others to take care of their needs will have a rude awaking when He comes and declares,

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ 

Matthew 7:21-23

Share Your Faith

We live in a world where sharing your faith can be a hard thing but it should not be.  Are you the kind of person that everyone knows all about your home, your job, your family, and all of your likes and dislikes but know absolutely nothing about what you spiritually believe?

I remember 30 years ago talking with someone about Jesus, his life and his mission here on earth.  She said to me, "Religion is a very personal thing and I don't talk about it."  That experience shut me right down and still bothers me though I am far bolder today. How can we spread the good news of salvation in Jesus if we never talk about him?

Mark 16:15 (NLT) - And then he told them, "Go into the world and preach the Good News to everyone."

Our world becomes filled more and more with sceptics and naysayers as we draw closer to the day of the Lord.  Many have no problems making fun of believers and sometimes the unbeliever is downright hostile.  Jesus warned us of earthy persecutions.

Matthew 10:22 (NIV) - You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

John 15:18 (NIV) -  If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.

Matthew 24:9 (NIV) - Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.

Luke 21:17 (NLT) - And everyone will hate you because you are my followers.

In a day of electronics and social media we have the world at our fingertips.  Literally right at our fingertips.  When you post a comment on social media anyone in the world can read it.  No longer do you have to get in your car or onto an airplane and travel to distant lands to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.  You can type it out on a keyboard and send it. You can make a video and post it on a website.  You can upload a recorded podcast for all to hear.  Do they hear about Jesus and your walk with him? Do they know your testimony of the darkness of sin you came out of?  Are you helping others seek him and find him so they can be saved from their sins and walk with God? Or are you too afraid of what others will say about you and your faith and beliefs? 

Matthew 10:33 (NKJV) - But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

To be silent of Jesus is in a way a denial of what he has done for us.  We have no problem sharing the joys in our lives, the milestones, the accomplishments, the sorrows, the troubles, the heartaches, the exciting times and the terrible times.  If this is all others know about us and have no idea of our faith in Jesus then what truly is our purpose for existence here on earth?  Jesus said it very plainly in the verse above that by not expressing our love for him, our thankfulness for his sacrifice on the cross to pay for our sinful ways, then he will have nothing good to tell God Almighty about us.  Harsh truth is just that, harsh but necessary.  

We cannot expect Jesus to save us if we only follow him part of the way and then sit in the road waiting for him to come back and get us.  It is up to us to keep moving forward.  It is up to us to take up the cross and follow him.  Do not be silent about your faith in Jesus.  Do not be quiet about what he has done for you.  Do not fear the remarks of others but fear God.  Be a worthy disciple of Jesus Christ and speak his name wherever you go. Just think of what would happen if everyone in the world who believes in Jesus Christ as the savior of their souls would continually speak his name in their own circle of life!

Matthew 10:38 (NIV) - Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

Luke 9:23 (NIV) - Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

Ecclesiastes 5:7 (NLT) - Talk is cheap, like daydreams and other useless activities. Fear God instead.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 (NLT) - That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.

Psalms 66:16 (NLT) - Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me.