Devotional: Expectation

Expectation

Expectation is God's invitation. I say that all the time! I have come to understand that having no expectation of God's ability in my life is like closing the door in His face. But if on the other hand, I will open the door of my heart with expectation, I will always receive!

Let me give you a great illustration of this from the Word of God. "Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, 'Look at us.' So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, 'Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.' And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength" (Acts 3:1-7).

This lame man had a routine. Daily, he was taken to the gate at the temple to ask for money as people went in to pray. No different than any other day or any other time, he asked of Peter and John as they were entering. The man may not have been initially expecting to receive from them, because it seems his eyes were already focused on others walking up behind. Peter had to say to the lame man, "Look at us." These words got the man's attention and he looked up "expecting to receive something." Expectation is God's invitation.

We know the man was expecting to receive money; he was a beggar and that's all he knew. He didn't know he could expect anything else or that there was something to help him in his condition. But by expecting, his heart became a door for God to enter and perform a miracle. Ephesians 3:20 states God "...is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us." This man most definitely received exceedingly abundantly above what he asked for or what he thought he was receiving. That is our God!

This man was accustomed to begging. He had been lame from his mother's womb. But you and I are not beggars! We are believers! How much more should we expect to receive from God? This is why faith is a key to our expectation. "...For he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). If you have no expectation of God, then how can you receive anything from Him? Some people are misguided into believing that God's sovereignty means that whatever happens happens. No, God is sovereign to His Word - not to circumstances or happenings. If He said it, He will perform it. But we must activate expectation!

Some would say, "Yes, but the Bible says God already knows the things I have need of before I ask" (according to Matthew 6:8). My response is yes, but He still said to ask and to ask in faith. "You do not have because you do not ask" (James 4:2b). John Wesley said, "God can do nothing except by the prayer of man." This is a controversial statement because many people believe God can do anything He wants. Then why did He tell us to ask? Over and over, throughout the Old and New Testament, He says to us, "Ask of Me." The lame man at the gate asked. The amazing thing is because he asked, "expecting to receive" - God did above and beyond what the man expected!

What can God do for you and I if we will just ask and expect to receive something? If we are walking uprightly before Him, there is no reason to doubt because we have a promise: "Whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight" (1 John 3:22). I know you love God and are endeavoring to please Him. So what are you waiting for? ASK AND EXPECT TO RECEIVE!