WEDNESDAY WEEKLY WORD ...expectations

EXPECTATIONS. We all have them. Not only do we have expectations of others, but others have expectations of us. And the expectations can change depending on the person, the situation and even the stage you are in life.

The expectations that a parent has for a child will be different when the child is an adult vs. when they were a child.

Same goes for expectations that others have of us when we, as Christians, are more mature in our walk with God than when we were just babes in Christ.

What one is expected to do or not do can very well be debated in homes across your community. In last weeks YOUR OPINION MATTERS POLL, I polled the readers the following question: "Which is most likely to be debated in your household?" The top 3 answers were...

1. 28% of those voting said that "what to watch on television" is most debated.

2. 14% voted and said "whose turn it is to do chores" is most debated.

3. Another 14% polled said that they debate over "how money is spent."

Obviously, in some of our households, the area of expectations may be blurred alittle bit. Did you know that God has expectations of us? Thankfully, His Word gives us clear direction of what those expectations are and nothing about His Word is blurred.

God's expectations of us is summed up in one word ....

L O V E !!

Yes, that's right. God expects His children to love. In the book of Mark, Jesus was asked which commandment was the most important. His response?

MARK 12:30,31 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. (31) The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these."

Loving God with all of our hearts, souls, minds and strength is an expectation that we should all have if we call ourselves a follower of Christ. We should love Him with ALL that we have! This means going beyond lip service ... putting our love into action.

What about that second expectation? Love our neighbor as myself? Now that is an expectation that could possibly be debated. After all ... do YOU KNOW my neighbor? Well, no matter what you may think of your neighbor, they are made in God's image and they are God's creation. We must respect and love them.

If a young child came up to you and brought you a piece of art they drew ... you would not crumple it up and throw it away. You would not verbally say what a terrible piece of art they created ~ certainly you would treasure the art as an act of treasuring the child. In the same way, we show love to God by showing love and appreciation for His works of art (our neighbors!)

LOVE...God gives it, He desires it, and He expects it!

WEDNESDAY WEEKLY WORD is a weekly post that I reserve for review of a current personal study I am doing. We all have expectations in life, but none is more important than the two expectations that God has for us to love...love Him and love others.