We are excited to introduce our theme for the month of June which is GREAT EXPECTATIONS.
The word expectations comes from the Latin word ‘epectationem’which means “an awaiting”.
The Cambridge English Dictionary defines expectation as “the feeling that good things are going to happen in the future”.
The word Great is usually used to express that something is “Beyond the usual”. Literally great expectation is a feeling of unusual good things to happen In the future.
But as Christians, we go beyond feelings to hope and our hope in Jesus Christ is the sure foundation for which we lay our great expectations.
Ephesians 3:20-21 says “ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than we all ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever and ever! Amen”
EXPECTATION OF THE PRICELESS INHERITANCE OF SALVTION THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST
This is the first topic we will be exploring under our theme for the month.
The first time we came up with this theme I thought, what can one really say about expectations? You either expect something or you don’t and clearly I am not Charles Dickens. But reading through scriptural texts and other literature I realized there actually is a lot to say about great expectations. In almost every Christian season there is expectation; Easter, Christmas, lent and in our daily lives we have these expectations we place on God’s shoulders. There are many ways to look at it but let us first of all look at our expectation of Salvation.
The very nature of God allows us to have expectations… great ones indeed due to his boundless kindness and mercy. One of the greatest of all is our expectation of salvation. Because God allowed his son, his living word to die for us we can say ‘oh I am saved through Christ’… meaning I know through ChristI have this great gift from GOD.
It does not suffice to just know this. Because we have great expectations, we can have great dreams [or imaginations] of this salvation and because we have these great imaginations, we can have great expressions of these expectations in our lives. What we expect, we imagine and what we imagine we become. Therefore, it is vital to understand what salvation through Christ means.
This expectation journey will be characterized by two things: HOPE and WAITING
Habakkuk 2:3 says “…Put it in writing because it is not yet time for it to come true. But the time is coming quickly and what I show you will come true. It may seem slow in coming but wait for it; it will certainly take place…” and 1Peter 1:3-4 also talks about new life and hope given to us by Jesus rising from the death and thus we look forward to possessing the rich blessings of God.
In both, references are made to waiting and hoping in God. Therefore in our expectation of salvation we should put all our hope in God, hoping on his word and his promises while we wait. For God’s time is not our time.
In waiting we might endure serious trials. This does not mean God has refused our request or has taken back his salvation and we will be worried asking ourselves ‘I am born again. Why are all these things happening to me?’
In our waiting we must be always expectant and keep hoping on the lord. For trials are God’s way or refining us…of testing our faith. We win God’s salvation by our faith and hope in Jesus Christ but as we EXPECT, our salvation will draw us closer to our lord in this life and lead us to His kingdom in the next.
We will be exploring further topics under great expectations and I hereby task you to ask yourself: “I have Great Expectations of God. Does he have great expectations of me?”
Thank you for reading!
Please share your thoughts and stories with us in the comment section below