Meditation Moments by Clara Crawford reverencehimtoday reverencehimtoday@gmail Earnest Expectations…. From Suffering To Glory! September 23, 2013 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. Romans 8:19-25 Earnest expectations are to eagerly wait. It sounds like an oxymoron. But it’s not an oxymoron. Let us take a moment and break it down. When we are excited about something to come, something that we have been waiting on for a long time, we tend to have a little anxiety. This anxiety is positive and not negative. Let me give you a few examples. A couple is in the process of purchasing their first home. They are excited about the blessing that they are about to receive. They are embarking on a new thing in life together. What an excitement! Think about the mother who is expecting her first child. The closer it gets to delivery, the more excited she becomes. She has baby showers to look forward to, not to mention decorating the baby’s room. Then there is the bride and groom. They are excited about their approaching day. He has great expectations of seeing his bride walk down the aisle before him. Lastly, we can all remember the look on a child’s face on Christmas morning. They have the biggest smiles. They are not worried about breakfast or anything else. They all have earnest expectations. Not all expectations are bad. Our greatest expectation should be the return of Jesus for the redeemed. God’s creation is so caught up in materialistic, decay, destruction, disobedience and death. But, Gods Believers have earnest expectation of His return for His children. Because we are connected to Him, we get to receive our rewards. He is coming back for us! He will finish His transformation in us and we will be perfect just like Him! I don’t know about you, but that is exciting news! We should have earnest expectations that He is going to reveal the sons of God. He is delivering us from suffering to glory in His return. We know that it now rains on the just and the unjust, but the day is coming that the just will suffer no more! 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope. When man sinned, the ground was cursed for man’s sake, and with it all the creatures became subject to that curse, became mutable and mortal. Romans 8:21 refers to corruption and bondage. Much of the beauty of the world is gone because of impurity and infirmity which happened with the fall of man. 21 Because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. The only hope we have a believers is in Christ Jesus! There should be nothing in this world that we desire more than Him. Our first and foremost desire should be to please Him. Our lifestyles should be lifestyles of obedience and faith. Our faith in Him should lead us to Him. Without faith it is impossible to believe that He is and to walk in obedience. Sin is a burden to the whole creation. There is a general outcry of the whole creation against the sin of man. The world has become a world of vanity. It has dishonored its Creator, who supplies the creature’s every need, food, shelter etc. and yet it refuses to honor and obey Him. As the saints, who are new creatures, Rom. 8:23-25, will reverence and honor Him! Saints have high expectations of His return. Having received the first-fruits of the Spirit, which both quickens our desires and encourages our hopes, and both ways raises our expectations. Our focus should be on Him and not be deceived by the enemy. We groan within ourselves, which symbolizes the strength and secrecy of these desires; not just making a loud noise. It is an intimate groan from the depths of our soul! Our groans say, “Come, Lord Jesus, Come Quickly.” We know that our hope is in His coming. We are waiting on our final adoption process. The papers have been signed; we have been approved. The transaction is complete. Can you imagine how a child feels in the social worker’s or attorney’s office waiting to be picked up by its new parents? The child has met and accepted their new parents; now they are ready to start their new lives together. Minutes seem like hours and hours like days. We should have that same excitement. Prayer: Father our Redeemer and Savior, thank You for redeeming us. Thank You for looking down on our sinful state and seeing the need to redeem us. Father, we long for the day when there will be no more tears, sickness, hunger, violence, destruction and deception. Thank You for being a wholesome God! We know that with You, we need no other. Thank You for the provisions that You have and are still making for us daily. Thank You for the manna from heaven, water from Your streams, clothes on our back and all of our other necessities. Truly You are our Jehovah Jireh. You are our Provider. Your Word says that You are the Way, the Truth and the Life. Thank You for that assurance. We love You Lord as we have earnest expectations of Your return. Amen! Amen! Amen!
Posted on: Mon, 23 Sep 2013 00:47:57 +0000
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