Preparing for Jesus – Great Expectations – Advent, Day 22

John the Baptist…A man who fulfilled great expectations and also lived a life of great expectations. Luke 1:67-80 record his father’s prophesy over his life….

Luke 1:80

⁸⁰ And the child grew and became strong in spirit^[b]; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.

He was a man who had no special powers, performed no miracles, lived with little or no money, and apparently, though his father and mother, came from a long lineage of priests, he did not pursue the ceremonious life of a priest, but instead lived in the wilderness. Even though John was “Strong in Spirit,” I believe that he really considered himself to be just a man.

One of John’s attributes that inspires me so much as I prepare my heart for this Christmas was how John lived everyday of his life expecting to see his messiah one day. John must have known his dad’s prophecy.

Luke 1:76

⁷⁶ And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;  for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,

I wonder what my life would look like if I really did live with the expectation that Jesus is coming again some day. I wonder what the church would look like if all of us as the Body of Christ truly lived out the same great expectations that John the Baptist had throughout his life.

I think that it is easier to live and love in radical ways when you live a life simply expecting great things from God. When you live a life convinced that His Son will be here any day now. God, please help us live our lives with the same great expectations lived out by John the Baptist…Please let it be so…