Expectations of ourselves and others is something we must deal with each day of our lives. We expect certain things from our wives and husbands. We expect certain things from our boyfriends or girlfriends. Our jobs have placed certain expectations on us to preform at a high level each day.There are even some family and friends that expect us to do what they think we should be doing for them. Every parent has expectations for their children.There are some that meet every expectation and more.Then there are the ones that just can't seem to meet any expectations at all. Is it them or could it really be us and our expectations that make others feel like failures?
I want to get personal with you for a minute. Since I was a baby there has been high expectations placed on me. I tried my best to live up to them. I studied hard,I played hard, but in the end I never really reached the expectations that I had,my parents or others had for me.For a long time I accepted the fact that my life was a failure. I couldn't keep a job. I couldn't keep any marriages. I couldn't stop drinking and drugging. You name it, I couldn't do it! I had become so accustom to failing that I'd fail before I even had a chance to fail! Just because I never reached those old expectations ,I felt like my whole life was a failure!
The Lord woke me up the other night with this one giant word "expectations".He showed me that sometimes our own expectations of ourselves and others can cause alot of pain and even anger! We hurt when we don't reach our expectations. Relationships can end because of our expectations. Jobs are lost because of not reaching certain expectations.We have even placed certain expectations on God. How many people have given up on God because they feel he hasn't done things they expect him to do?Who needs a God like that!We sometimes expect God to drop everything and tend to our needs."Lord, I have this really high cellphone bill I need help paying so I expect you to help me get it paid this week." The week passes and there is only a recording talking on that phone!Now that person becomes upset with God because he didn't meet their expectations! I can truthfully say that there have been times I've felt the same way about God. There have been times when I felt he didn't do what I expected him to do. I knew that I had a need that only he could help me with but he didn't seem to care. He left me out there to deal with it and to face my situation head on. I knew afterward that he was there the whole time.Every lost job, I learned something from it. I was blessed with three lovely kids from those failed marriages and have a loving,caring wife I've been with since 2001 . Every life experience has been a gift of knowledge that some will never have. All this from what I thought was failed expectations. We have expectations of God, but what about his expectations of us?
In today's passage,Jesus tells us what God expects from us. His "expectations" center on one word LOVE! God expects us to LOVE him with all our heart, all our soul, and all, our mind. How many of us meet this expectation? What is your love focused on right now? Next,God expects us to LOVE our neighbors like we love ourselves. Are you meeting that expectation in your life? Is there someone you know you can help but just aren't doing it? Do you find it hard to meet these "expectations"? If so, remember this message when someone doesn't meet the expectations "you have" for them!Don't let your own expectations cause someone to fall.Let LOVE be your "expectation" in life. Show your LOVE for God by showing someone, some LOVE TODAY!!
"Father if we could only try to fulfill your expectations for us, this world would be so much better for everyone. Forgives us if our expectations have caused others to fall.Let your LOVE work through us each and everyday! In Jesus mighty name,Amen."
P.S. I "expect" you to pass this and all messages along!(smile)
NICE JOB!
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