"Do We Expect Anything?"

  It's right around the corner, Lord willing. If the Lord permits, we will see Sunday in a few short days. That first day of the week everyone else calls the end of a weekend. I can't understand that thought process that the first day is the end but that's how many have twisted things and that's how we have accepted it.

  Sunday has become another day to many. It's a day off of work. It's a day to sleep in. It's a day to go and have fun. It's a day to work around the house. I wonder what will go on for you on Sunday? Oh, that's right...that's church day!! We have to go to church that day. And we approach it with that mind set. We have nothing to look forward to or nothing to stir us any deeper than a ritual of 'have to' and 'church'. So we enter our assembly. Do we expect anything? There's my friend so we converse about the week and what is about to take place in the sports arena. Do we expect anything? The clock strikes an appointed hour and it is time to sit. Let's see who is doing what as we look around. Do we expect anything? The announcements are over so we can begin. One after another goes through their appointed duties. We sing our songs while words are sung, do we expect anything? Prayers are offered almost nodding off to sleep then comes the reading of Scripture which many times we can't find that book of the Bible much less remember the chapter and verse. Do we expect anything?  

  It's time for the Supper one of the most quiet times during our 'church time'. Someone says some words, a few prayers and then around comes this little cracker and cup of juice. My kids want to take and we tell them 'no' as it's for adults! Do we expect anything? Now comes the most restful time...the preaching. We can sit back and take it easy for 30 minutes and let the man do his thing. After all, we pay him for that! Do we expect anything?

  Finally we draw things to a close with a prayer and it's back to our time! Lunch, plans for the day or even a nap. Do we expect anything? We go back to our routines in the same mind set and heart direction in which we came. We came with expecting 'church stuff' and left with this same level of thought. Nothing gained but something lost. It's the lost part we don't understand or know. Each time we come together as Christ's body, we should expect something. First, something from us to the Lord. Secondly, something from the Lord to us. Something should be filling and should have filled us from above. But when we expect nothing and approach the Lord expecting nothing, that's exactly what we leave with...NOTHING! But within our being, something is being eroded away and down the road of life, it will raise it's head and then we will see we have little to nothing to hold to because we expected nothing and are left with nothing. What do you expect this Sunday?