Minister Carmin A. Frederick

Philippians 1:20

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

Expectancy 

It is a wonder to me that given his current state of physical imprisonment, Paul chooses to use the word ‘expect’ in his letter to the Church at Philippi. To expect means: to look forward to; regard as likely to happen; or anticipate the occurrence or the coming of. Despite his current imprisonment, Paul eagerly regards as likely to happen that he will have “sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body . . .” He expects that he will have sufficient courage so that now as always, Christ will be exalted. Isn’t that amazing?

Eugene Peterson, states that “a community of faith flourishes when we view each other with this expectancy, wondering what God will do today in this one, in that one. When we are in a community with those Christ loves and redeems, we are constantly finding out new things about them. They are new persons each morning, endless in their possibilities. We explore the fascinating depths of their friendship, share the secrets of their quests . . .”

Imagine if we lived in a community of faith that viewed each other with the same expectancy as Paul seemed to demonstrate, a community of expectancy, where:

• We looked at each person in our community with expectancy
• We expect that Christ would be exalted in each and every person that we encounter
• We expect to receive and give God’s love to each person we encounter
• We expect to go to the next level
• We expect all of those around us to go to the next level
• We expect a secure future for the next generation

Prayer 

Lord on this day, and every day, help me to live with a little more expectancy! More expectancy that You will be exalted in all that I do and say. Help me to live with more expectancy that those around me will also have the courage to live with the same expectancy. We thank You for Your Son Jesus who helps us to live each day with more expectancy. Amen.

Thought for the day 

Expect the Great!