Exceeding Expectations? Are There Any?

She said to the king, 'The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard - 1 Kings 10:6-8

"I'm shocked," said the woman on the phone. "I've just seen your picture. I was expecting a grey haired old man. You are too young to have the wisdom that I read in your messages. And, now, talking to you, I am so impressed!"

That was a few years ago. Today she would just not and look at the white hair and hopefully give experience the credit it is due...

Of course, my point is this, when people meet you, or experience your work life skills, would they say that you far exceeded their expectations? Do you undersell and over produce, or oversell and under produce? Solomon's wisdom far exceeded any man's wisdom and it was evident to others. When people come in contact with you do they come away with a sense of greater appreciation of you after meeting you? I met with a couple last night who were relieved at my level of knowledge and insight into my industry. Is that you?

"Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men - Proverbs 22:29. Whenever we exceed the expectations of man, we bring glory to our Heavenly Father and He often elevates us among men. You might read a lot of things beyond this into your theology but the thought is straight-forward.

Bezalel was a man who designed the ark of the covenant for Moses. God handpicked him to design it because of his exceptional skill. GASP! God chose him because he was something...Bezalel was actually the most exceptional in his craft and it was this talent that God used.

Then Moses said to the Israelites, "See, the LORD has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts - to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic craftsmanship. And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others" (Ex 35:30-35).

We live in a time and amongst a people of God where, at some level, and with some who have a voice into the larger world stage, there is a push to fully divorce who we are and what we do and/or how well we do it from whether we are acceptable for use by God. Of course, there is another line of thinking, a branch of this if you will, that simply says, "Just be the person you are, God loves you there; accept who you are and it will all be fine because God accepts and loves you where you are!" And, while God loves and realizes who we are, that has always been true! Prior to our coming to Jesus Christ, and our acceptance and embrace of Him as our Lord, Savior, King and Great Treasure, God loved you and realized who you were. It was not however okay with Him and you were not in fact "accepted".

God isn't in the business of leaving us where we are. While God loves us where we are He in fact loves us so much He will never us there and it is His sovereignty that brings into our lives in order to polish the diamond that is our life If there was a Kingdom project to be done would God recommend you for the job? God calls you and I to live our lives and do our work with excellence. He expects our cooperation. He also anticipates we desire, because of our love and realization of who He is, that we will wish to hone and embrace more of our relationship with Him.

Paul once wrote to a people who had come to Jesus Christ these words, We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.
- Colossians 1:4-8

Jesus brings forth love to the Father. That brings forth a desire to show forth that love to Him and that leads to others seeing the love, the life, and the quality of what it means to be "in Him". Regardless of the voices that cry "just be free!" Freedom means something to those who love not just the freedom but the one who provides it to us moment by moment and day by day!

I remain...
InHISgrip,
~J~