Have you ever thought much about the Apostle Paul’s use of the words “earnest expectation” in Philippians 1:20? Let me share the verse with you, and then let’s think of these two marvelous words.

“According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death” (Philippians 1:20).
It was around 3 o’clock in the morning on a poorly lit Amtrak platform that years ago my wife and I waited for the train to take us to Syracuse, New York. I watched to the west of us with “earnest expectation” for that train coming from Chicago. I mean, I watched with really “earnest expectation.”

Paul used the word apokaradokia (ap-ok-ar-ad-ok-EE-ah) from which we get the two English words “earnest expectation.” Paul speaks of a firm and settled significant expectation of that which has not come yet and still he is certain that it will come.

Our tickets said that the train would come.
The website said that the train was coming.
I watched with eagerness anticipating the arrival of the train.

That sounds like a great way for believers to be living in eager anticipation of the Lord’s coming. We eagerly anticipate, we have “earnest expectation” that we belong to the Lord and will indeed be with Him some grand and wonderful day.

For today: I want to pray the words of Philippians 1:20 and make them my own heart’s desire. How about you?