Anticipation and Hope
My
soul, wait in silence for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He
alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress. I will not be shaken. Psalm
62:5.
soul, wait in silence for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He
alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress. I will not be shaken. Psalm
62:5.
What is our point of view, the here and now, or is it the anticipation of
living with the eternal point of view?
When my world was small, my expectations centered around my family. Then I
learned to sing, “Jesus Loves Me!” Anticipation grows daily, as each
Bible verse enlarges my expectation of what God has for us beyond this
temporary world.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for
good, for those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28.
“Everything about our lives is determined and influenced by our view of God!”
(Bill Bright, author). Have you ever wondered how the truth of the existence of
God and how He loves and changes our lives on earth?
It is because of His Love, we learn to trust Him every moment of our lives, no
matter what we go through. His love never ends. With love comes forgiveness.
When our expectations are centered in His love and we find new gifts of mercies
each day. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
His mercies never come to an end; they
are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations
3:22-23.
God’s great Love moves from being a commandment to a way of life for us.
This happens when we begin to see the hearts of others and learn to love
them. The secret of never being disappointed in others is seeing them through
the eyes of Jesus.
One
of my joys is learning to know someone whose purpose in life is helping
others. Serving others in the name of Jesus Christ. No matter the
inconvenience, even when she is tired, her graciousness in the name of Jesus
comes to the fore to help others. She doesn’t count the cost and continually
goes the ‘extra mile.’.
of my joys is learning to know someone whose purpose in life is helping
others. Serving others in the name of Jesus Christ. No matter the
inconvenience, even when she is tired, her graciousness in the name of Jesus
comes to the fore to help others. She doesn’t count the cost and continually
goes the ‘extra mile.’.
Count
it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for
you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its
full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James
1:2-4.
it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for
you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its
full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James
1:2-4.
Truth, steadfast love, and constancy of faith is our daily test. Are we
consistent in what we say and do? Are we struggling to find what we are
to do next? Therefore, my beloved brothers, be
steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing
that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. I Corinthians
15:58.
How can we do this? The verse just before gives the answer. But
thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
I Corinthians 15:57.
What is close to your heart? What is your joy? What do you spend most of
your time thinking about? Long ago, my brother memorized this verse, For
where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21. This
is like a self-test for us. The verse before it tells where our treasure
is safe and will last an eternity. Lay up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where moth nor rust destroys where thieves do not break in and steal.
Each kindness, each encouraging word, each act of love given in the name of
Jesus Christ creates our treasure in Heaven. These are the ways we can worship
our Lord.
The greatest Anticipation is crossing from life to death, and into eternal
life. When God raised Jesus from the dead, He conquered death for you and
me.
But if Christ is
in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of
righteousness. If the Spirit of Him who
raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from
the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who
dwells in you. Romans 8:10-12.
in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of
righteousness. If the Spirit of Him who
raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from
the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who
dwells in you. Romans 8:10-12.
Who is this Jesus, who made a way for us, and gives
us purpose and a reason to anticipate His coming?
us purpose and a reason to anticipate His coming?
In the book of
John, are the “I Am’s”. Jesus declared I am the bread of life, the light
of the world, and I am from above. I am the good shepherd. I am the
resurrection and the life. I am the Way and the Truth, and the life. I am
the vine.
John, are the “I Am’s”. Jesus declared I am the bread of life, the light
of the world, and I am from above. I am the good shepherd. I am the
resurrection and the life. I am the Way and the Truth, and the life. I am
the vine.
I am who I am
because the I Am tells me who I am, are the lyrics
coming from “New Name Written Down in Glory!” There is no
reason to wonder who we are when God calls us His friends and children of God.
because the I Am tells me who I am, are the lyrics
coming from “New Name Written Down in Glory!” There is no
reason to wonder who we are when God calls us His friends and children of God.
Greater
love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you
do what I command you. John 15:13-14.
love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you
do what I command you. John 15:13-14.
See what
kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children
of God, and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is
that it did not know him. I John 3:1
kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children
of God, and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is
that it did not know him. I John 3:1
Expectancy is the Anticipation of seeing Jesus at any moment and
rejoicing!
rejoicing!
Comments? eacombs@att.net