Life Ministries

Expectation

    The story is told of the actress Helen Hayes and her first Thanksgiving turkey. She considered herself to be the world’s worst cook, but after several years of marriage, decided to take on the task of cooking the turkey dinner. She sat her husband and son down at the table before the meal and said; “Now this may not be the best meal you have ever had, and I don’t know exactly how the turkey will turn out, but…if it’s not a good turkey, don’t say a thing… without comment just stand up from the table, and we’ll go to the nearest restaurant to eat”. A few minutes later she walked into the dining room with the turkey… Her husband and son were standing at the table with their coats on!

     Expectations… It has been my experience that more often than not, the way we live our lives…and the things we get out of life…has a lot to do with our expectations.
    What is it that causes children to jump out of bed at 6:00 on Christmas morning, when they usually sleep until 8 or 9? …It’s because of their expectations.  What is it that causes hunters and fishermen to get up at the crack of dawn, when it usually takes a bomb to go off to get them out of bed?… It’s their expectations.  Helen Hayes didn’t expect to cook a good meal… Her husband and son didn’t expect her to either!
    So, our attitude, and the way we approach and enjoy the Christmas season has a lot to do with our expectations. But, then I’m not just talking about presents and celebrations, I’m asking; “Has the story lost its glow?…Has it’s warmth, it’s excitement, it’s miraculous flavor, gone away just because we have gotten older or, because we have heard it so many times. What are your expectations this Christmas?  I hope the wonder and the reverence and the anticipation of Christ’s birth and his coming again is not gone. I hope we are not found standing in the pews with our coats and hats on!
    This morning, I want to begin at the beginning, and take a quick look at the stories of two people; Zacharias and Mary. What was their faith and their expectations concerning what the angel comes to tell them?
    Let’s do a little comparing here first of all, in order to get the full picture;  Zacharias was a mature believer; he was an older man; a devoted believer in God and His Word, with lots of experience in the Temple. He was a priest, we are told, who was “upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly”….
    Mary, on the other hand, was young…probably yet a teenager; she had little experience as a disciple, but she was willing to serve; and, we are told that she “found favor with God” and that “the Lord was with her”.  The question is, “How old do you have to be to have faith in God?
How mature must you be to trust the Lord and His plan for your life? From most people’s point of view, it would seem Zacharias has the advantage here… or does it?
    Both receive a visit from an angel telling them they are going to have a baby. Now, if this happened to you or I, we might be somewhat startled, and amazed, or even fearful…But what I want us to see is their response; Zacharias responds with “No way!” While Mary says “Yes, way! ”Your way!…Well, her words were more like; “May it be as you have said”. 
    Zacharias struggles with whether or not to believe this is possible. He has never experienced anything like this before…an angel? Answered prayer? A miracle? ”I want proof!” ”How can I be sure of this? I am an old man, and my wife Elizabeth is no spring chicken!” ”Where were you 40 years ago?” “It sounds impossible to me, and I’ll have to see it to believe it!”
    Mary, on the other hand, is at the other end of that spectrum; She is a young virgin, and struggles with the natural laws of childbirth… However, when the angel tells her that this is beyond natural, that it involves the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit, and that God the “Most High” will do what He says He will do… Mary believes that “nothing is impossible with God”… The keyword perhaps being “with” because “one plus God is a majority!” She simply says; “May it be”.
    Finally, let’s look at the reward for their expectations. Zacharias doesn’t expect God to do anything; and he is rewarded with 9 months of silence…For 9 months he can’t make a sound. Notice also that he wasn’t in any hurry to tell the world what had happened, because it says (in verse 24) that “Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion”. In fact, it would seem as though many of their friends and neighbors didn’t know about what God had done until it was time to have the baby. Which brings to mind; How many of our friends and family won’t hear the “good news” until Jesus comes, and it’s too late? How many of us are keeping quiet about what God has done in our lives?
    Mary, on the other hand, goes to see Elizabeth to tell her what God has done! She can hardly wait for the promise of God to be accomplished.  This Advent season ought to find us like Mary…waiting in great expectation and anticipation for God to fulfill His promise.