The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe
"Expectation"
What do we expect? Or more to the point, Who do we expect?
"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him" (Psalm 62:5).
If we could ask a faithful martyr who died for the Lord Jesus Christ what we should anticipate even if called to follow the path of ultimate sacrifice, the answer would simply be, "Expect Him."
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me" (Psalm 23:4).
The martyrs felt the cross, the flame, the noose, and the blade that ended their earthly, physical existence. However, they knew the promised presence of their Shepherd, as will all who walk with Him on mountaintops of light, or in valleys of shadow. Thus, martyrs for the Lord would tell us their expectation of Him was fulfilled, and that we can and must anticipate His "very present help in trouble" when facing challenges of any mode or measure (Psalm 46:1).
We can, and we must. Much of our experience of life flows from our expectations. If, contrary to God and His Word, we view the future with foreboding, we shall likely miss the foretold promise that "when thou passes through the waters, I will be with thee" (Isaiah 43:2). Conversely, if while recognizing that trouble, pain, and challenge will come, God Himself will be the great fact and reality of every contingency, our hearts will be prepared to know that His "very present help" transcends even painful challenge. "And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in Thee" (Psalm 39:7).
We must determine to anticipate our Heavenly Father's "I will be with thee" regarding all that will come our way. He will keep His word to be and do all we will require. We will find that proper anticipation, based on promises impossible to be broken, will have opened our hearts and eyes to see that which we may well have missed had we chose dread rather than expectation. The martyrs would tell us this, that seeing the Lord Jesus as the great reality ever awaiting us prepares us to walk in His peace whatever our tomorrows may bring.
"I will look for Him."
(Isaiah 8:17)
"Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked when it cometh. For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken."
(Proverbs 3:25-26)
Weekly Memory Verse
"The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
(Ecclesiastes 7:8)
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