My pastor wrote this a few days ago and it really struck home with me.
God has a great plan for all of us. But sometimes, we act as if WE have a great plan for HIM!
MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL!!!!!
John
Have you ever opened a big boxed
gift only to find a small one inside?
Have you ever saw a gift that was
small, thought it to be simple, and
when you opened it you were shocked
at how expensive it was?
Have you ever hoped and dreamed
for a particular gift, really thought you
were going to get it, only to be disappointed
Christmas morning?
I am sure we all know what these feel like.
When reality does not measure up to our
expectations. Life has a way of surprising
us that way, even shocking us. Often we
are left frustrated. The expectation of the
gift was greater than the gift! We liked it
better when we were hoping, wishing for
the gift, than when we finally opened it.
Expectations. We all have them. Somewhere
in the corners of our mind we create these
preferred scenarios of what, how, who, why,
when, and where. It happens in marriage, with
our kids, in our families, at work, and even in
the church. It never ceases to amaze me how
many expectations are placed on the church.
People want the church to be perfect and never
fail them, yet they can use every excuse in the
book to validate their thoughts and behavior.
Expectations. When they are not met feelings
are hurt, grudges are held, and relationships
fade. Instead of honest and sincere communication
seeking to clear up any misunderstandings, there
is a gray area of unanswered questions and assumed
motives. From hurt feelings and held grudges come
distancing and deceit. Finally, the relationship dies
an often slow and painful death. All because there
was no willingness to confront the ever real chasm
between our expectations and reality. Reasonable
expectations are fine, but too often our expectations
run into the unrealistic and absurd.
For hundreds, even thousands of years, the Jews
awaited their Messiah. They prayed for Him to come.
They sang for Him to come. They spoke daily of His
soon coming. Yet when He came…He was not Who
they wanted Him to be…He did not do the things they
wanted Him to do…so they refused to accept Him.
The gospel of John 1:1-14 reminds us of this. He came
to His own and they did not receive Him. Why? He did
not meet their expectations! Their view of God was
wrong, so when God showed up they missed Him. Angels
announced Him….The Star highlighted Him….yet the world
yawned at His appearing because He did not meet their
expectations.
I have found that most of the wrinkles in my marriage,
my parenting, my pastoring is usually in the area of
expectations. I expected a certain response and it did
not happen. I expected a particular result and it did
not turn out that way. Disappoint….hurt….anger…pride…
wounded….bitter….you know the journey. This is why
the people crucified Jesus…they did not get what they
expected out of Him so they chose to try and eliminate
Him! If Jesus won’t comply…crucify Him!
This Christmas, let’s work just a bit harder on having
realistic expectations. But beyond that, let’s work at
not being so offended, so hurt, so upset when others
or life do not live up to our expectations. More often
than not our expectations are unrealistic. Christmas
is about reality…God coming in the flesh…simply….
lowly….truthfully. The truth is…God has never failed
me, even when He has not met my expectations. He
is faithful…He is truth….He is life.
Merry Christmas,
Rev. Scott T. Reiman, Pastor
River Of God Fellowship
