God Sized Expectation

The people were filled with expectation… (Luke 3:15a, CEB)

In the new Young Adult study, we are working our way through the Gospel of Luke. In Luke chapter three, Luke explains that as people witnessed John the Baptist’s ministry, they “were filled with expectation.” This phrase jumped out to me and resonated with how I feel about the ministry of Spokane First Nazarene in these days.

Yet expectation is something that always varies from one person to another. In churches it seems we most often put expectations on certain people. But I think in this narrative the people’s expectations weren’t just centered on John the Baptist. Their expectations were centered on what new thing God was doing or was about to do.

I have some friends who are expecting their first child. It seems like the expectation in this passage is closer to the waiting and anticipation for a new baby than the expectation placed on a person.

I wonder if sometimes we don’t expect enough from God. We get stuck doing the motions of church life. We rehearse the story of God. But I wonder if sometimes I’m not convinced God is going to do anything new; both something new in the church as a whole and new in us individually.

I want to be one who is quick to believe that God not only can do something new in me but will do something new in me.

Our God is always about doing a new thing. I like the song All Thing New from Elevation Worship. I encourage you to listen to this song and then pray this prayer with me.

Lord grow expectation in me about what you want to do in me and my church. Remind me that you want to do a new thing in me. Grow my expectations. Make them God sized. Amen.

-Pastor Shawn