A State of Expectation

Heart Prep

God, help me to see You for Who You are, faithful to what You promise.

Luke 3:15-16 “Now while the people were in a state of expectation and all were wondering in their hearts about John, as to whether he was the Christ…John answered and said to them all, ‘as for me,
I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie
the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.’”

Do you know what I love most about Christmas? It is the hope that Christmas represents. Everything is alive and vibrant. People are making plans, dreaming dreams, and living in a state of hope. Every Hallmark movie (all of which I love) centers around this theme Anything is possible at Christmas!  Christmas joy, Christmas love, and Christmas spirit all create a feeling of hope that the impossible will become possible. After Jesus’ birth, people still had to wait on Him to grow up. Many of them were not even aware He had been born. Things were not like today, and there wasn’t a huge social media network for news to go viral. News had to travel via word of mouth. Jesus hadn’t started His earthly ministry yet, so not many people knew about Him.

John the Baptist had started his ministry. He was preaching, and people were responding. The Bible says they were in a state of expectation. They were looking and waiting and hoping. Where was their Messiah? Was John the Baptist the one who had come to save them? John told them all, “No, I am not He. But He is coming, and He is much greater than I am.” God sent Jesus just like He said He would. We can trust that God will do what He has promised. As we remember Jesus’ birth, let us live in expectation of His coming again to receive us unto Himself (John14:1-3).

Life Application

What is God saying to me?

Something I want to remember from this is....

How does this change my life and what are my next steps?