Expectations

Whether we like it or not, we place our expectations on others whose life impacts us. We think they have a mark to reach to be true to the person we think they are. Let me expand that to the people they lead you to think they are! That’s a very different thing, isn’t it? There are jobs and professions that we instinctively know what to expect, and we are seldom, if ever, wrong. Doctors, nurses, police officers, and I’m sure you could add others. But these are professions. Trained professionals in fact. But what about a work or vocation that is spread across all kinds of people, young and old, experienced or not, man or woman?

The Christian is such a person, and we have our expectations in each of them, whether in the community, or other churches, or dare I say even our own church. While in mixed company, have you ever heard the words, “I never thought you….(fill the action yourself)”. It’s akin to suggesting that you are a hypocrite, and that is a word I dislike intensely.

You see, the truth is: As much as we place our expectations on others, those same ‘others’ are placing their own expectations on us. I suppose that’s a fair balance, but I still don’t like it. The bottom line is that I think we should be very careful about the measuring stick we use on our Christian brothers and sisters, because they could use that same stick to beat us up if we fall short of their expectations! How then do we ALL live up to the expectations placed on us? The short answer is that we don’t, because we can’t in our own strength. The apostle Paul gives us the answer when he wrote to the Christians at the growing church in Colossae.

We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord. Colossians1:9,10NIV

Forgetting and Straining

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Philippians 3:13-15

You are an athlete, and you are in the race of your life. This time you aim for gold! What does the athlete do? According to this verse, it all comes down to: "This one thing I do, pressing toward the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus". That's it. What, that's it?? Just aim for the finishing line, and Paul confirms that this is enough for God and Heaven's entry. Sounds simple, doesn't it. Not a lot of other things to bog you down.

Let's look at it from another angle. As with any other Olympic race, there are some things the athlete does NOT do. He/she doesn't:

>Look at the crowd of spectators at the side of the race. Some may not be Christians, but they are watching how you run this race. You don’t run to please them, but your Heavenly Father.

>Look at, or concentrate on, the men and yes women who may be in front leading the pack. Perhaps they are straining even more muscle and sinew than you are, and so deserve their place. The aim is not to win, just finish well.

>Look at the ones who are level with him/her because they are brothers and sisters in Christ, and they are your encouragement, not the opposition. You can’t compare yourself because you are all in this race together.

>Turn round and look at those you are faster and better than. The end result can come down to pride because you are ahead, and pride comes before a fall. The ones behind are still in the race, and like you, their aim is to finish.

>The last thing a runner in this race does NOT do is check out any of the runners, or the spectators, to see if they should be anywhere near this race. The sincere runner is too busy straining, and looking forward to the end goal so that he/she cannot afford to look around to check on everyone’s eligibility. That is not our job. They are all there for a reason and by God’s sovereign will, whether in the race or on the sidelines. We must get used to that idea, and not take our eyes away from the goal, or our attention from the prize!

The athlete's focus in this, the most important race of his life, is to finish. It is not acceptable to stop, falter or faint on the way, because then it is impossible to finish. It is also worth remembering that even the Apostle Paul hadn’t reached the goal. He was there in the race striving, just like you and me.

Reach The Goal

Brothers and sisters, I know that I still have a long way to go. But there is one thing I do: I forget what is in the past and try as hard as I can to reach the goal before me. I keep running hard toward the finish line to get the prize that is mine because God has called me through Christ Jesus to life up there in heaven. Philippians 3:13,14

The New Year is now on us, so may we take these verses seriously. Paul brings his life’s work down to one thing as he tries as hard as he can to forget the past, which is not easy, and reach the goal of eternal life in heaven, because this prize is ours and worth all the trouble this world can throw at us. So, let’s keep these words in our hearts and minds as we enter, and work through the coming year 2017.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR CHURCH FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AND MAY OUR GRACIOUS GOD BLESS YOU RICHLY, AND KEEP YOU IN HIS CARE.