Monday, August 23, 2010

Expectation vs. Hope

Just been meandering around this subject the last few weeks. As followers of Jesus, are we called to replace expectations with hope?

Legalism might cause us to expect that someone do something the way they ought, when they ought, where they ought.

Hope causes us to want others to want to do right.

Expectation leads us often to disappointment in others.

Hope leads us to see the good of a God who is at work in others.

Expecation severs relationship with deadlines and immediacy.

Hope preserves the relationship with anticipation and eternal perspective.

Expectation isn't particularly biblical.

Hope is.

Expectation leads to sentiments of entitlement and rights.

Hope relinquishes rights out of love and humility for others.

So when we expect from others...we are disappointed in others. When we hope for others, we are blessed by others.

When we expect from God...we find a God who is controllable and impotent.

When we hope in God...we find a God who is able to do immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine.

What do you think? Do we need to start repenting of areas where we are expectant rather than hopeful?

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