Expectations

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Psalm 92:1 Good To Give Thanks

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; Psalm 92:1

Anyone who gives a gift to someone else likes to be thanked. Or when a person does something good for someone else, people expect to be thanked for the work done. It is expected that when a person receives a gift of any type, that the receiver will show some gratitude for what was received. Many will take great offense if someone does not say thank you and also send a thank you card for what was received.

The writer of this psalm says that it is good to give thanks and sing praises to God.

While it is expected for people to give thanks to one another, many people forget to give thanks to God. Just as with people, many people just expect God to do what He does and does not need to receive any thanks.

There are also many people who do not recognize that it was God who gave what was received. What was received is often seen as earned or received by one’s own hard work or good luck, rather than a work of God. What a person has received from God is an endless list.

Without God there is no air to breath, food to eat, clothing to wear, place to sleep, ability to move or speak and much more. Without God there is no life, no hope, no purpose or meaning to existence on this planet.

Although God does not ‘need’ to receive thanks, it does show gratitude for what He has done or has given someone. Along with showing gratitude, it also shows that one recognizes where the gift or help came from. It puts God on the throne of one’s heart and life.

If you stop and really think about all the good things God has done for you and given you, the list is endless. Throughout day, each day, stop and give thanks to God for what He has done and is doing, given and is giving you.

Do not allow yourself to be like the world and think that you earned it or deserve what you have. Without God, you have nothing. With God, you have all that you need and much more than you can ever imagine.

It is good for you to give thanks to God all the time.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will recognize what God has given you; that you will give thanks to God for what He has done for you; and that you will sing praises to God.

Picture by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

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1 Chronicles 6:32 Performing Your Duties Correctly

They ministered with music before the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, until Solomon built the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. They performed their duties according to the regulations laid down for them. 1 Chronicles 6:32

In both the workplace and the home everyone has certain duties that they are expected to perform. Some of those duties are actually written out in detail as what needs to be done on a regular basis. Many other duties are unwritten and undetailed but are expected to be completed.

Various things are often put in place to encourage completing all the duties one is supposed to do, though it is still up to the individual to complete the duty.

David had put some men in charge of ministering with music before the tabernacle until the temple was built. They performed their duties according to the regulations given them.

Everyone has some specific duties that they must perform on a regular basis. Most often this is specifically found in the workplace and is filled with details on what to do or not do and consequences of both sides of performance.

It is common for many people to try and find loopholes in getting out of doing some of their duty or doing less of it. Every day people are removed from positions because they are not performing their duties according to the regulations or expectations.

Believers not only have the regulations of the duties of their jobs, social and home lives, they also have the duties to be performed that have been laid out by God. The very least of these regulations are to live a holy life, flee sin, pray, be a witness and to build His kingdom.

How these things are done may vary from person to person, but each is expected by God to do his duty to the best of his ability with the strength of the Holy Spirit.

God has placed you on this earth with a purpose. He has a job for you to do that only you can perform. He has also given you all authority and power needed by the Holy Spirit to do what needs to be done.

Do not allow yourself to shirk your responsibility in completing the task God has set before you. Perform your duty according to the plan God has set before you and see God do amazing work through you to build His kingdom.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know what God expects you to do; that you will work in the power and strength of the Holy Spirit; and that you will do the work God has given you to do and according to His regulations.

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Matthew 25:32 Are You A Sheep Or A Goat?

All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. Matthew 25:32

In every workplace there are two types of people. There are some who do what they are told and expected to do and there are some who do not do what they are told or expected to do.

The boss who is aware of what is going on will often reprimand or fire the one who does not do his job. The others will be honored and raised up.

Jesus says that in the end everyone will be divided as sheep and goats. The sheep are those who did His will and the goats are those who did not do His will.

Just as it is in the workplace, are people in the church. In every church there are many people who claim to follow Jesus and believe in God. Some are telling the truth, while others are not.

Many go to church to look good or to escape hell, but very few actually go to church to be built up and to build others up. Those few will go out and reach the lost in many different ways. They will not just sit in a church pew and expect people to come to them.

Sheep will obey their master and do what he says and go where he leads. Goats, on the other hand, will do their own thing, not obeying or following anyone.

God is looking for and expecting people who claim to believe in Jesus to do what God has said to do. Even though someone claims to believe in Jesus, if he does not do what God says, then he will be cast into hell in the end.

If you claim to be a believer and follow Jesus, you are already on the right track. However, your actions must follow your words.

Do not allow yourself to claim Jesus, but do as the world does.

Seek God’s Holy Spirit to guide you in ways you can reach out and touch the lives of other people for God. This can be in witnessing and telling them about Jesus and in practical ways of meeting their needs when you can.

There is coming a day when God will separate the people. Will you be seen as a sheep or a goat?

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will know what God desires of you; that your actions will match your words; that you will do what God wants you to do; and that God will see you as one of His sheep.

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2 Corinthians 12:21 Grieved Over No Repentance

I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged. 2 Corinthians 12:21

It is common for people to have expectations of friends and family when they are separated. They expect certain things to happen or to be when the meet up again after a time of being separated.

Discouragement and disappointment often come when these expectations are not met, and even more so when there is not even an attempt to meet the expectations.

Paul tells the church in Corinth that he is concerned that when he sees them again he may be grieved over them, because some will not have repented of sinful ways.

It is expected that people will slip up and sin. No one is perfect, nor can claim to be. The world has no problems with sin and do not expect any change or sorrow for their sins. It is a part of their life.

The believer, however, has a different expectation put upon him. If he does sin, he is expected to repent of it and turn away from the sin. This was the entire purpose of Jesus coming to the earth, dying upon the cross and raising from the dead.

Even though many claim to believe in Jesus, there are many in the church who refuse to repent of certain sins. They continually go back to those sins, refusing to give them up. Sadly, there are also many who claim that certain sinful acts of sexual immorality are acceptable in the eyes of God. They purposefully live in a sinful way, while claiming to be a believer and follower of Jesus.

The heart of every true believer should be grieved over seeing this type of action.

As you consider yourself a believer, you must examine your life for any unrepentant sin. Seek God’s forgiveness and change your ways to live according to God’s holy and righteous standards. Do not purposefully live in sin.

When you see other believers who are refusing to repent, allow your heart to be grieved as God’s heart is grieved. Seek to restore believers who have chosen to not repent and to live in sin. God loves everyone and wants all to be saved. This includes you and every one you know.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will repent of all sins against God; that God will strengthen you to give up all sin; that your heart will be grieved at seeing others sin against God; and that you will be a witness to God’s love, mercy and forgiveness.

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Ezekiel 39:8 It Will Happen

Almost midnight clock

It is coming! It will surely take place, declares the Sovereign Lord. This is the day I have spoken of. Ezekiel 39:8 

When something big to occur is in the works, people will talk about it coming and promote it. Months before a big movie is to be released, there are trailers being released to pump it up. Days are counted down to its release. Millions of people get excited about it happening, because they know it will happen. There is a high level of expectation.

It is common to see things being promoted that will happen in the future. Some things are a year away, while others things are within months. Either way excitement is drum up to get everyone ready to be a part of the new event.

God was preparing to bring judgement upon the nations. Although it had not yet occurred, God was telling the people it is coming, pumping them up to be ready for it.

There are yet prophecies of what God has promised in the Bible that are yet to come. Yet, they are coming.

At some day in the future Jesus will come again as He had promised. At that coming, there will be judgement upon all people for what they did or did not do. That day will be unlike any other day in all of history, because it will effect and change the entire world with everyone in it.

Knowing this, believers need to be telling and warning people of what is to come. They need to know that they can escape the harsh judgement of God against them by repenting and believing in Jesus.

For the believer, the return of Jesus will be the greatest thing that could ever possibly happen. For the unbeliever it will be the greatest horror that could happen.

It is coming! It will surely take place as God has promised.

You know that Jesus is returning as a believer. With that knowledge, first, live for God with all of your life. Second, let people know about what God is going to do. Give the world the warning of what God will do to those who do not obey and follow Him.

Do not allow doubt creep in and remove the excitement of the coming return of Jesus to leave you. Stay excited and looking forward to it. As you wait, let others know and build His kingdom. It will surely take place.

I pray today that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you look forward to the return of Jesus; that you will be a witness of Jesus to everyone you meet; and that you will live your whole life for God.