thomas a kempis said 600 years ago, “be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.” that’s a lowering of expectations.
how do you do that? how do you change your thinking this next week?
philippians 4.8 (tlb) invites us to do that and tells us how. fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. think about things that are pure and lovely. dwell on the fine good things in others. think about all you can praise GOD for and be glad about. dwell on the fine, good things in others.
find the one good thing you can dwell on in people’s lives. find the one good thing you can dwell on in one person this next week.
some people get angry because GOD put thorns among the roses. other people praise him for putting roses among the thorns. what’s it going to be for you? look for the roses among the thorns this week.
when it comes to the issue of expectation, maybe the greatest change in expectation for you needs to be your expectation of what a relationship with GOD is like. GOD says in exodus 34.6 (nlt), I am the LORD, the merciful and gracious GOD. I am slow to anger, rich in unfailing love and faithfulness. foucs on unfailing love and faithfulness.
that exact phrase is used no less that nine times in the bible. GOD wants us to get this. what kind of relationship can you expect from GOD? one filled with judgment? one filled with guilt? if you expect that, you’re going to be afraid of GOD. who wouldn’t be afraid of a being of immeasurable power who has his thumb poised to squish you at the slightest sign of any mistake?
but the bible says that’s not what you can expect from GOD. HE’s slow to anger. HE is rich in love toward you. HE is rich in compassion toward you. HE loves you more than you could ever imagine. HE sent HIS SON JESUS to die on a cross because of the depth of love HE has for you. that’s what GOD’s like. HE’s not waiting to get you. HE’s waiting to love you.
just a thought from the front porch…
No comments:
Post a Comment