Expectations.

 

Expectations are a fact of life. You have them, and everyone around you has them. Many of them are good and right:

 

Your supervisor can expect you to be at work on time.

 

Your friends can expect you to listen to their problems.

 

If you are married, you should expect your spouse to be faithful.

 

But many times, we find the expectations of others becoming great burdens to carry, perhaps especially in the Christian world.

 

When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: ( Matt 11:2-4) (NIV).

 

At least at this point Jesus did not meet the expectations of John the Baptist. It was not that Jesus wasn't doing exactly what he should, it was because John had expected "more." John was in prison, and the cause seemed dark. It is easy to sympathize with John; few of us would want to end our careers in jail with execution as the likely prospect. Maybe his hope was that if Jesus were political messiah, He could save his life. Maybe not, but John expected more.

 

Jesus faced many pressures to conform to expectations. The religious leaders expected the messiah to fit their legalistic patterns. The zealots wanted him to throw off the yoke of Rome. The common folk wanted someone who would provide bread. Jesus was able to resist false or unnecessary expectations because he knew who he was and he was sure of his mission..

 

We sometimes struggle because we want to meet everyone’s expectations, and then forget who we are and what we are here to do. When we work or worship with people who are looking for "more," we can end up burning out trying meet their needs. We need to carefully separate between what is expected and what is required.

 

The prophet reminds us in Micah 6:8 of what God requires. "He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

 

What are your expectations?

 

Do you expect more from your spouse than they can give?

 

Do you expect more of yourself than you can give?

 

Do you expect more from your pastor than God has required of him?

 

What expectations are you struggling with?

 

Are the expectations of your church heavier than biblical expectations?

 

Are you spending all of your time meeting unrealistic expectations of others?

 

Do you know what God expects? Do you know what God requires?