Perhaps it’s just me. Other than my immediate circle of relatives and friends, sometimes I wonder.
What do you expect from God? I am constantly amazed at how little Christians expect from Him. Is it that I expect too much? I don’t think so.
Since God is supernatural, and since a part of Him lives within us, and since Jesus is the Savior of the world, I don’t think it’s too much to expect that He talks to us as individuals. The Word teaches that Jesus Christ is the same today, yesterday, and forever. He still does the miraculous, He still intercedes for us, He still appears to some people just as He did after His resurrection. I expect that of Him.
I expect God to answer my prayers. He gives us one of three possible answers: yes, no, wait. And sometimes He elaborates. The Holy Spirit fills us with His words. We can “hear” Him when he speaks to us. Rarely for me is it audible, but there have been some instructions from Him to me that have been just shy of it.
I expect to “hear” from God besides the insights and revelations from His word. Jesus is my friend that sticks closer than a brother. He does not remain mute. Sometimes He’s very quiet, and I don’t hear His words outside of the Bible, but other times He speaks to me in detail. He is the best friend anyone could possibly have.
I expect God to do miraculous things. He does not always choose to demonstrate His incredible power, glory, and abilities at my every whim or at anyone else’s either. But all over this world He still operates in miracles.
I realize that different denominations renounce certain things in scripture as having ended with the death of the last apostle. However, there is not a single word to indicate this is so. And believing it can lead to a very limiting perception of who God is in this dispensation when the Spirit of God is now indwelling His people. The “greater things” we are to do because of the Holy Spirit’s residence here await our obedience daily.
Some Christian fiction portrays a shallow version of the relationship with God, often leaving out Jesus, as casual, haphazard, somewhat fruitless, and lacking zeal. Characters are no different than their worldly counterparts except that they fling up a prayer now and then. Some Christian fiction gives us nothing within the story to identify a Christian has written the novel—it’s simply been published by a recognized Christian publishing house.
So, what do you expect of God? Anything?
Thank you, God, that you are greater than all of human imagination and estimation. Thank you for transcending our abilities and for demonstrating your power and glory. Thank you that you are so far beyond our capacities to describe, define, or declare in your completeness. Thank you, Jesus, for your sacrifice for me. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for living in such a wretch as me. Thank you.
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