Unlikely Ways

Expectations have a way of creating unique and often disappointing situations. We can get so wrapped up in them that we dismiss anything that doesn’t align with them, because we believe that our way is the only way.

The bible tells us differently. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.

Jesus was constantly demonstrating that by upsetting the status quo. What people expected or what the culture believed, was not how Jesus responded. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are,  so that no one may boast before him.

In a society where women were thought of as less than, Jesus demonstrated a special tenderness and care for them. He valued them, noticed them, spoke to them, healed them, forgave them, restored them and loved them.

The Jews expected Him to deliver them from Rome; He delivered them from sin. The religious leaders were shocked that He dined with sinners, spoke with women and allowed them to wash His feet, yet those were the ones that heard His words and experience healing and forgiveness.

Jesus doesn’t always do what we expect because He delights in working out His plan in the most unlikely ways.

In the most critical event in history, Jesus chose to have Mary Magdalene be the first witness of His resurrection and encouraged her to tell the disciples. When she told them they didn’t believe her. Perhaps they thought her demons had returned and she was loosing her mind.

But the truth was, Jesus had fully restored her, healed her and now was honoring her with the greatest news in history. He was changing the culture and revealing His own expectations of how we see and value people.

Be Intentional about aligning your expectations with God’s

Praises & Prayers

Lord, thank you that You see things differently that we do. That Your ways are higher than ours and that Your thoughts are not our thoughts, they are much better. Help us to align our expectations with Yours and to see and value people the way You do. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Messages from His Word

Isaiah 55:8

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.