Date: Friday, June 27, 2014
Today's Chapters: Psalms 103-105
Message Title: Living Up To Expectations

We all have expectations in life, I imagine that none of us truly are living the lives that we expected to be living. Perhaps we never got where we want to be because we missed opportunities, made some bad decisions, or have been just plain lazy, or perhaps it is because we have a great fear of failure. Fear is our biggest enemy, and the one who orchestrates it all is the devil, he hates seeing us living our lives for God and enjoying the life we have been given. We can learn to enjoy life through the obstacles that keep us from our expectations, we just need to trust the Lord, and make sure those expectations are not something that He would not want for us. “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” - Philippians 4:11-13.

The word benefit means, to do good to; to advance in health, or prosperity;. While it does not seem like the obstacles we face in life bring many benefits, they actually do, as long as we hold on to Jesus. “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.” - Psalm 103:2-4,6,8-10.

The benefits of God, we may not have the life we want to live, but it is the life that God wants us to live right now, and if we stop to think about it, we will realize that it's a pretty good life. We must admit that we really do not receive the things we deserve for our sins, we all have done something, whether before or after we are saved that we ought to be ashamed of. While all sin is forgiven through the blood of Christ, we may have to endure some chastening, but remember, it's not forever, it will come to pass, and we will be better Christians. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” - Romans 8:28,29.

It can be quite heart breaking to go from obstacle to obstacle with no sight of ever meeting our expectations of life. We must not forget where we were before Christ became a part of our lives, and the benefits of removing those obstacles. We may not be where we want to be right now, but God knows where we want to be, we must trust His judgment, and not forget that He will always provide us with what we need. We are reminded that He takes care of all His creatures. “Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening. O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.” - Psalm 104:20-24.

While we are the only creatures on earth with a soul, every creature knows God, and trusts Him to provide for them, that is, every creature, except man. I was watching a cartoon, yes, a cartoon, the other day, and even the apes acknowledged that humans were of their own kind. How sad is the mindset of the people today that believe we evolved from an ape. People lose interest and faith in God when they stop acknowledging Him, and the ones that get hurt the most are the generations who will die and end up in hell, never knowing Jesus because they did not even acknowledge God existed.

“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” - Romans 1:20-25.

The key that opens the door to our sensible expectations is Jesus, we must seek Him first, and never let Him go. Now, we cannot literally let go of Him as once we receive Him He never lets go of us, but we can get away from His presence when our we start trying to get through our obstacles on our own. We need Jesus' strength to get through our obstacles. “Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore. Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth; O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen. He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth. He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness: And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people; That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the LORD.” - Psalm 105:3-8,43-45.

God may have started with Israel to show the rest of the nations that His people are blessed when they follow His commands, but He didn't stop with them. All who believe in, and receive the Lord, Jesus Christ as their Savior, become part of the seed of Abraham, we are adopted into the family. Keep in mind, being a Jew, a Catholic, or a Baptist does not make you chosen to be a part of God. The only way we become God's is by believing in and accepting that Jesus, paid the sin debt and gave eternal life to all who believe in Him. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” - Romans 10:9-13. Praise God!

Today's Prayer: Jesus, You made a promise to us the second we believed in You, that no one will be able to pluck us out of Your hand, and I believe that promise. When our expectations of life seem to meet obstacle after obstacle, it's easy to forget Your promise and what You have done for us. You are our strength to get through all our obstacles and reach the life that You lead us to. Lord, give us Your strength, help us to keep walking with You, and seeing Your hand always clutching onto ours. In Your name, Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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