Parson to Person: Expect the unexpected

A state patrol officer tells the story of a man he pulled over. Upon pulling over, the man jumped out of his car with a radar detector in his hand, and then smashes it into the pavement. He was yelling, 'I paid $500 for this stupid thing, and it doesn't work!”

The officer replied, 'I pulled you over because you only have one license plate.

Were you speeding?”

Our expectations determine our actions. When Magi came into Jerusalem to talk with King Herod, they had an expectation of finding a king. They had traveled for approximately two years, following a star. Probably traveling 1,600 miles from Iraq. Most likely they got this information from Daniel in 600 B.C. Herod, troubled by their questions, called for his wise men; and they confirmed Micah the prophet had foretold almost 500 years before of a king being born in Bethlehem. 'Yet out of Bethlehem Ephrathah shall he come forth that is to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been of old, from everlasting.”

Over 200 prophecies are given in the Old Testament of Jesus, the Messiah, the Christ. His birth, life, ministry, death and resurrection. These wise men of Herod had no expectation that Christ would be born in their lifetime. They didn't even travel the five miles to Bethlehem to check it out, while wise men from Iraq had traveled 1,600 miles to find Him. Your expectation determines your action.

Through Christmas is the obvious celebration of Christ, many today have no expectation of Him. They expect many parties, activities, spending on gifts - but have no expectation of Jesus. Our expectation determines our action.

Jesus is not a philosophy or a religion. He is God, come to earth in human form. He came to earth to save us from our sins, to destroy the works of the devil, to give us life, and redeem us from death. This incredible love given to us is unexpected, even undeserved. 'God so loved you, He gave His only Son for you …”

Often, we have little expectation from the Christ. This little expectation determines our action. Like the wise men of Herod's palace who knew about Him, they had little interest in Him. Which meant they had little time for Him. They saw Him as irrelevant, unnecessary, unneeded.

The Life Changer is tossed aside like menial change. The Life Giver is ignored as an uninteresting gift. Our expectation determines our action. The greatest gift of God is His greatest sacrifice. He loved so He gave. Don't ignore the gift - the person who died for you.

Receive the gift of Christ. Expect the unexpected!