What? Who Will be First?

~~~ 1Peter 1:10-16 ~~~ Psalm 98 ~~~ Mark 10: 28-31 ~~~

I think today's readings are about expectations...our expectations.

We each have our own way of looking at the things that happen in our lives.

We each have our own reasons for doing the things we spend time doing.

The prophets had their expectations.

The angels had their expectations.

The obedient children had their expectations.

Peter's expectation is 'do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance...but, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct.'

He goes on to quote God's words from Leviticus,

"Be holy because I am holy."

No matter what you do in your life you act from a set of expectations that have been developed from outside forces over the years.We experience situations and circumstances in our lives that determine our outlook on life.

We soon learn to expect certain results and or consequences.

If we do not grow in our expectations life can become stagnant and tainted.

We can even become disillusioned when our expectations are not met.

Peter is writing this letter to encourage his followers to search

 for a higher perspective...

He is encouraging them to see all aspects of their lives

from the perspective of holiness.

Let your expectations emerge from your holiness.

View your expectations through the lens of your holiness.

But the caution here seems to be, if you see all things through the perspective of holiness; what keeps one from still having certain expectations.

If you have given up everything to follow Jesus you might expect to be rewarded in some fashion. Perhaps you think you should be granted special favors.

Perhaps you think you should be treated better than others.

Perhaps you want to be seated in the front at a place of honor.

But son we begin to see the prespective of Jesus through his words,

"But many that are first will be last, and the last will be first."

Okay. On second thought maybe we sould not be so caught up in our own individual sense of holiness. For we are consistently reminded about God's ways and our ways being so different.

Being holy obviously is not about giving up everything or about being first. Being holy is about living a life that is in union with God. A life that is abundant and full because of the love of God for us.

So what are your personal expectations?

Sometimes our own expectations can result in great disappointments.

Do you expect more because of your relationship with God?

Or are your expectations met with humility and gratitude?