Awake and AttentiveSample

Expecting the Unexpected

In Matthew 25, the bridegroom had appeared at an unexpected time, which is why the five foolish girls were not ready. They believed that the bridegroom would appear according to their time, and when he arrived, their lamps went out.

A person who is awake and attentive always expects the unexpected.

God is predictably unpredictable. He does what He wants, with whom He wants, how He wants, and when He wants. It is impossible to box God into our methods and our times. It is our duty to live awake and attentive, constantly waiting for the unexpected.

The Jewish people were waiting for the Messiah, for the sent one, for the promise. But they did not expect him to come in the form of a baby, or to be born in a humble manger and grow up among ordinary people. Nor did they expect him to work as a carpenter as an adult.

But what they least expected was that this Messiah would come to declare love and peace, instead of coming with an army, riding on a horse with shield and sword, ready to bring down the Roman Empire.

What a great surprise it must have been for them to see that Jesus came with love in his heart to establish the kingdom of God. Since His coming was unexpected, they did not recognize Him as the Christ, even though they had been waiting for Him for so long.

How many times do we not see what God sends us because we do not expect the unexpected? This happens to us when we reduce what God does to our knowledge and our way of seeing things.

When you live attentive and awake, you expect the unexpected.

For years my wife and I waited for our church to ask us to move to Latin America. We were expectant, but when it happened, it was totally unexpected, because by 2015 our church had expanded to other locations, and our roles were totally different.

It was totally unexpected that Pastor Brian told us at that time, but when he did, we didn't have to wait, think, pray, or seek advice, but we were ready to enter that new phase. When you live awake and alert, you expect the unexpected, because God is predictably unpredictable.

Let's not expect God to work in our lives in our way, let's position ourselves so that He works in our lives in His way and in His time!