Expectations!

The following is encouragement for you as if Jesus Christ Himself was speaking.  These are meant to give you insight into His Heart, how He thinks, and how He feels about you.  Let this encouragement begin to dwell deep within you!

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you.  Follow him.  Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’  He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready.  Make preparations for us there.”

The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them.  So they prepared the Passover.

MARK 14:12-16 (NIV)

 
I would like to devote this particular Note to one main truth you can count on, and it is a truth that so few people believe or understand.  But it is a truth that can change your life! 

The truth is that I can, and do, care for, and plan for, the smallest details of your life!  And I do this every day, every minute, every place, every time!  Not just the big plan, but the day to day, minute by minute plan as well!

Passover was the most important feast in the Jewish calendar.  It spoke of the exodus of the Jewish people from their slavery in Egypt, and how they were directed to a land prepared for them, a land flowing with “milk and honey”, the Promised Land.  To wait until the last minute to prepare for this important feast was unheard of; to not plan at all was almost a sin. 

Note in the Scripture above that the time for this feast was at hand, yet my friends were at a loss as to where we would celebrate it.  But I knew exactly where we would celebrate it, who would provide the room, how to prepare for it, and how to guide my friends in just the right path, at just the right time, so they would find just the right place.  I knew the details, even though my friends didn’t.  I made the plan, knew the plan, and was carrying out the plan.  But it was a much bigger plan than a simple Passover meal!

And think about this fact: when my friends went to find a man carrying water, all they could see was the Passover dinner.  Their focus and vision was so narrow.  What they were really doing, however, is setting in motion my master plan to provide a new kind of relationship with Father God, the kind of relationship my friends could not even imagine!  They were thinking about that particular night; I was thinking about my death the next day, my resurrection a few days thereafter, sending the Holy Spirit after that, and establishing a new Covenant for all time. 

Concentrate on this: I had all the details of the plan already in place, even though my followers didn’t yet see them.  And all my followers had to do was to listen to me and follow my concrete and specific directions.  It was similar to the Israelites leaving Egypt, being guided by a cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night immediately after the Passover.

If you are like most people, you might sometimes have a hard time hearing my voice, a hard time understanding my directions, a hard time not worrying about the future and what it holds.  But do not worry, every detail of your particular life is in my hands, and I am sending the Holy Spirit to you to help you discern my voice and my directions.  As you pray, ask for specific guidance; you will be given it!  Trust me when I tell you healing is coming, even when you can see only the next step!!!  Be encouraged!!!



PAUSE … Invite Him to be with you; let Him quiet you with His Love.
 

REFLECT … What is God saying to you?

1) Might there have been some anxiety among the disciples as the time of Passover grew near, with no plans seemingly to have been made?  Can you identify with them?

2) When Jesus finally gave instructions for the Passover preparation, His instructions were limited to just the next few hours, even though He had the long-range picture in place.  Why? 

3) On that preparation day, do you think the disciples had any "long-range" plans?  What might have been the reason Jesus decided to take them step by step, one instruction at a time, one new truth at a time....?

4) How specific were the directions Jesus gave to his followers?  Can He, does He, offer similar detailed instructions today, to you?

5) In what areas in your life might you need detailed guidance and directions?

6) Can you consider for a moment that nothing in your life has happened outside His plan for you?  Can you have enough trust to believe this?  Can you find balm for the past, comfort for today, and then enthusiasm and excitement about your future believing these truths?  
 

RECEIVE …

You can't see the whole picture, so might as well not try!  Leave that to God.  He has a greater plan for you than you can imagine, like Jesus had a greater plan for that Passover and all that would follow!  Trusting, with limited information, is a gift from God.  Ask for it!  AND BE FILLED WITH HOPE!!!


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