Expectation & Cognitive Dissonance | Matt Meyer | Grace Christian Center
There are two kinds of expectations: Godly and human. One leads to life; the other often leads to disappointment.
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The word expectation in Hebrew means a cord. It was first mentioned when Rahab let the spies out the window. She had an expectation that she would be saved. It is often translated ‘hope’ or the thing longed for.
There are two kinds of expectations: Godly and human. One leads to life; the other often leads to disappointment.
We all have built a framework of expectations. This is vital to physical and social survival. People cannot live up to human expectations – God is the only One Who cannot lie, so anyone else can. People can let us down; God never will.
Misplaced expectations in this area often lead to sorrow.
Cognitive Dissonance is holding two or more opposing views. People think things are one way and they observe them to be another way, creating a fight on the inside.
This can be self-inflicted. Example: smoking is bad for the health, but a person might choose to continue.
The call on this body of believers at Grace Christian Center is to ‘rise up and take our rightful place in the Body of Christ’. Every message we hear is aimed at that call of God. We cannot stay the same and rise up at the same time. This can create cognitive dissonance.
Our spirits want cognitive consonance through renewing our minds by the Word of God.
Freedom always costs something, The greater the freedom, the higher the cost. Jesus earned our freedom by paying the ultimate cost. Any hint of religion is a dilution of truth. If you dig down deep into truth, it might be a lonely path for a while, as religion will fight against this.
The Bible is uncompromisingly true. We dig out revelation. No one can do it for us. One reason we need time in the Word is so that we recognize what the Holy Spirit is showing us. If we don’t know it is in there, we won’t connect it.
At some point we will be forced to do something about religious cognitive dissonance by externally modifying our behavior, or trivializing the inconsistency, or running away, or actually changing our belief.
Religious traditions that are not required for salvation will need to be dealt with. We cannot continue to think we are dependent on communion, water baptism, or any tradition. We have to let go of that dependence to experience true freedom in Christ.
Truth sets us free but it also destroys the argument of everything that isn’t truth. The good Christian life is the caboose. We don’t steer from the caboose. Truth is the engine.
Misplaced expectation creates cognitive dissonance. If we do not express an expectation, and it is not met, we will have disappointment. No one owes you anything. Jesus already paid for everything, so no one has anything to owe.
Ask God to show you areas to change, spend time praying for others.
