Good morning -
We each have certain expectations, whether we communicate them or not. We expect to be treated honestly and fairly by others. We expect to be paid agreed-upon wages by our employers. We expect certain job performance from employees. We expect our spouse to be faithful to us.
What about God's expectations of us? Many are confused and consider His expectations to be overly-harsh and unrealistic. After all, how can unholy people ever live up to the expectations of a holy God?
A long time ago a prophet named Micah was inspired to pen God's expectations as succinctly as have ever been written:
"He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8)
Amidst all the detailed laws and requirements, could God's expectations really be that simple? Apparently so. Jesus similarly framed God's expectations when He was challenged to declare God's highest commandments:
" 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' "This is the great and foremost commandment. "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40)
A walk of faith and active love for our Father, His Son, and all people are the essence of God's expectations. The coming kingdom will be characterized by perfect justice, genuine love and kindness for all, and an unhindered relationship with our Creator. The reality of the coming age breathes life into our existence today as we live within this future realm. We become living demonstrations of the coming kingdom as we participate with God through active justice and kindness and a humble daily walk with Him. In this way the seeds of the coming kingdom germinate within and begin to bear fruit that is both God-pleasing and people-appealing. This kingdom lifestyle gives validity to the kingdom message that we declare.
God's expectations are profoundly simple yet radically life-altering. They cannot be met except through a total transformation of mind and attitude. It is only through the sacrifice and active work of Jesus that we able to be transformed by the renewing of our mind and enabled to be a living and holy sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2).
God's expectations cannot be met by our own resolve or in our own strength but we can be wonderfully transformed through the act of surrender, "for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13).
May His transforming power guide your today into the lifestyle that pleases Him and demonstrates the reality of His coming kingdom in a compelling way for others.
Pastor Steve
We each have certain expectations, whether we communicate them or not. We expect to be treated honestly and fairly by others. We expect to be paid agreed-upon wages by our employers. We expect certain job performance from employees. We expect our spouse to be faithful to us.
What about God's expectations of us? Many are confused and consider His expectations to be overly-harsh and unrealistic. After all, how can unholy people ever live up to the expectations of a holy God?
A long time ago a prophet named Micah was inspired to pen God's expectations as succinctly as have ever been written:
"He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8)
Amidst all the detailed laws and requirements, could God's expectations really be that simple? Apparently so. Jesus similarly framed God's expectations when He was challenged to declare God's highest commandments:
" 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' "This is the great and foremost commandment. "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40)
A walk of faith and active love for our Father, His Son, and all people are the essence of God's expectations. The coming kingdom will be characterized by perfect justice, genuine love and kindness for all, and an unhindered relationship with our Creator. The reality of the coming age breathes life into our existence today as we live within this future realm. We become living demonstrations of the coming kingdom as we participate with God through active justice and kindness and a humble daily walk with Him. In this way the seeds of the coming kingdom germinate within and begin to bear fruit that is both God-pleasing and people-appealing. This kingdom lifestyle gives validity to the kingdom message that we declare.
God's expectations are profoundly simple yet radically life-altering. They cannot be met except through a total transformation of mind and attitude. It is only through the sacrifice and active work of Jesus that we able to be transformed by the renewing of our mind and enabled to be a living and holy sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2).
God's expectations cannot be met by our own resolve or in our own strength but we can be wonderfully transformed through the act of surrender, "for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13).
May His transforming power guide your today into the lifestyle that pleases Him and demonstrates the reality of His coming kingdom in a compelling way for others.
Pastor Steve
posted by steve @ 8:47 AM
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