Higher Expectations

Scripture – John 11:45-48: Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture.) It’s amazing to me that some of the people saw what Jesus did with Lazarus and still refused to put their faith in Him. There was no debate in the Sanhedrin about what Jesus was doing. They all knew He was “performing many miraculous signs.” Their concern was with the political fallout from that and how that would affect them. Jesus never showed any concern about that. He did what He came to do. He cared for people as they had needs. He never let concerns about how things might look be an issue for Him.

Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read.) Sometimes that very concern is an issue for me. I’m aware of what I think people may think. I do some things because I think they’re what people expect me to do, and I’m afraid to step out of those boundaries. I tend, sometimes, to take my direction from perceived expectations of people rather than from Christ. I will pay attention to what I do today. I will monitor my motives. I will listen for Christ’s direction.

Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer.) Please keep speaking to me, Lord. Keep the eyes and ears of my heart open to you. I’m sorry for losing sight of your call in my life. Give me courage to live as you direct today.