Expectations

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Deuteronomy 11:18

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11

When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty. Jeremiah 15:16

His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut
up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. Jeremiah 20:9

The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their
hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way
they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a
noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Luke 8:11-15

"The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: Romans 10:8

Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. Revelations 1:3

How is it that we don't EXPECT that people read their Bibles? That we don't urge them to hide the Word in their Heart? That we EXPECT that we be protected from worry, sin, doubt, basically protected from everything Satan has to throw at us, yet we don't EXPECT to learn the Word of God and hide it in our hearts, when it is the very thing that will guard our hearts the most?

Why is that we wonder why people today are still searching, that they can't see what's right in front of them? Is it because we have no EXPECTATION of them reaching out to grab it. We've been taught to have our faith spoon-fed to us. And then we wonder why people think we are hypocrites. Why people look to other of the worlds great religions. Why? because we haven't EXPECTED them to actually look into Christ. We preach the Good News, yet we don't ask people to do what the Bible clearer states "retain it!"

Knowing God's Word, being in it daily, reading, studying, retaining it, hiding it in our hearts...that is our defense! It is our sword! It is what will keep our thoughts pure and holy. It is what will change us from the inside out. They are the very words of God spoken to us. It is God's love letter to us and we take it for granted! We assume that people understand its importance and we think that we can just be like Christ.

Well, you want to be like Christ...here's the reality...by the age of 12 Christ would have had the ENTIRE Old Testament memorized!