January 16
Matthew 11:7-30
Throughout the course of our lives, unmet expectations are unavoidable. The dreams we have for our marriage, family, jobs etc. will often fail to come to fruition. Similarly, our expectations for what we want God to do will often not be met. How will we respond when things do not work out how we hoped? Jesus confronts unmet expectations by addressing how his ministry, and that of John the Baptist, failed to conform to others’ expectations. What our eyes need to grasp is not what we want to see, but what God is actually doing. Jesus came and the crowds failed to repent (v.20) because he did not come as they expected. They missed out on what God was doing because they did not have eyes to see that God had appeared right in front of them in the person of Jesus.
Jesus ends Matthew 11 by shattering another expectation we have, which is the location of rest. We often believe that rest will come through a vacation, the weekend, mindless perusing of social media, or a great nap, but Jesus is crystal clear that he is the one who gives rest. Jesus says, "Come to me...and I will give you rest." Does this match your expectations of rest? If it does not, we need to stop imposing our desires upon God and conform our expectations to His truth – the one and only truth. Life is found in submitting to God – not trying to get him to submit to us.
Father God, help me to submit all my desires and expectations to your will. Help me to see what you are doing so that I can join your work. Amen.
Where do you need to submit your desires before God’s will?
Throughout the course of our lives, unmet expectations are unavoidable. The dreams we have for our marriage, family, jobs etc. will often fail to come to fruition. Similarly, our expectations for what we want God to do will often not be met. How will we respond when things do not work out how we hoped? Jesus confronts unmet expectations by addressing how his ministry, and that of John the Baptist, failed to conform to others’ expectations. What our eyes need to grasp is not what we want to see, but what God is actually doing. Jesus came and the crowds failed to repent (v.20) because he did not come as they expected. They missed out on what God was doing because they did not have eyes to see that God had appeared right in front of them in the person of Jesus.
Jesus ends Matthew 11 by shattering another expectation we have, which is the location of rest. We often believe that rest will come through a vacation, the weekend, mindless perusing of social media, or a great nap, but Jesus is crystal clear that he is the one who gives rest. Jesus says, "Come to me...and I will give you rest." Does this match your expectations of rest? If it does not, we need to stop imposing our desires upon God and conform our expectations to His truth – the one and only truth. Life is found in submitting to God – not trying to get him to submit to us.
Father God, help me to submit all my desires and expectations to your will. Help me to see what you are doing so that I can join your work. Amen.
Where do you need to submit your desires before God’s will?
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