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