Hi Faith Family!
How’s your day? Please read the following description and consider if it would be a fitting description of your day:
You woke up fully rested, feeling great. Upon inspection in the mirror, your face was even more beautiful/handsome than normal. You had lost weight during the night. Your breakfast was nutritious while surprisingly delicious—you enjoyed each and every bite. No traffic on your way to work/school. Not anxiety about upcoming events. Every person with whom you came in contact treated you courteously, thoughtfully, and respectfully. You received several compliments throughout the day. Several people noticed you were a Christian and encouraged you. You smelled great . . .
How am I doing? Is this your day? Did I describe it accurately?
Well . . . what did you expect? Expectations are an extremely significant detail that usually determines our view of events. Some get all bent out of shape with incorrect expectations. What about an average day? Are you expecting everything to go smoothly? Should we Christians expect no rubs as we make our way through our day-to-day in an un-Christian world?
Wake up! We need to adjust our expectations. There may be some trouble with relationships, government red-tape, or anti-Christian media. Conflict may develop because we are following Christ’s direction for our lives and the world that hated him may very well hate us. There is a part of us that doesn’t like to hear that—we want ease and to go with the flow, even if the direction of flow isn’t to the destination we need to go. We are too easily influenced and sometimes unnecessarily intimidated by this world.
The question is: will the constant rub against the world wear you down? Or will the constant rub against the world make you sharp, strong, and a useful tool in the hands of the Lord?
Or were you expecting something else? Always smooth sailing? No conflict? Check your expectations.
Jesus said,
“I have told you these things, so that
in me you may have peace. In this world
you will have trouble. But take heart!
I have overcome the world.”
“These things” encompass all Christ’s teaching to his disciples. The purpose is “peace” with its manifestation of courage. The core meaning of this peace is the situation when all is well between us and God. This is a condition in which we live and will remain.
This is a peace we enjoy—the feeling of peace results from the possession of peace. Jesus encourages us to be courageous. We are courageous when we are not troubled and afraid. Jesus teaches that we will have trouble—anxiety—anguish: the feeling of trouble and fear due to the world’s hatred and persecution. No matter what the world does to you, you have peace with God through Jesus. So we can face the world’s hatred with a heart cheerful and strong, enjoying our peace in spite of any opposition from the world.
After all, Jesus has overcome the world. Christ’s victory over all evil forces is yours, through faith in him. This final word of the chapter is filled with powerful victory and hope. Take joy and encouragement in these words of your Savior to you, as you re-set your expectations.
Conflicts may arise as you live your faith and confess your Savior with your words, actions, decisions, and attitudes. But no force can rob you of the peace you have with God in Jesus Christ.
Prayer idea: Pray for those you care about who don’t yet have this peace. Give thanks to God for true peace. Ask God to help you adjust your expectations.
Blessings on your week!