Monday, November 4, 2019

Pastor's Ponderings, November 4, 2019

Great Expectations

The novel, Great Expectations, was written in 1861 by Charles Dickens.  In this book, the protagonist, Pip, received his expectation when he suddenly is given a large fortune.  Unfortunately, along with this wealth, there was also great pain in his life. Although that was fictional, in reality, many times our expectations in life are not as wonderful as we had anticipated.

In the Bible, God shares his expectations for His children.  He wants us to have peace, well-being, and hope (Jeremiah 29:11).  He wants us to prosper and be in health (3 John 2).  His expectations are that even our children are blessed because they will have His Spirit and His commands (Isaiah 59:21).  He further promises that we have His protection and that our heritage is from Him (Isaiah 54:17).

We may have dreams and hopes for power, prestige and wealth, but  we should rather desire that God give us everything that we need for a godly life and to share with us His very great and precious promises (2 Peter 1:3-4).  The Bible demonstrates the fact that God has great expectations for those who love Him.  Let us rejoice and thank Him for all that He has done for us and all that He will do.

Jeremiah 29:11
Amplified Bible (AMP)
11 For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

3 John 2
New International Version (NIV)
2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.

Isaiah 59:21
New International Version (NIV)
21 “As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever,” says the Lord.

Isaiah 54:17
New International Version (NIV)
17 no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,”
declares the Lord.

2 Peter 1:3-4
New International Version (NIV)
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 
Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.


No comments: