2-- Thinking About Potential

Thinking About Potential (by Bill Stevenson) What is potential? How does it relate to expectations? Whose expectations should we strive for? The following definitions are from the Wesbster’s 1828 Dictionary: POTEN'TIAL, a. [L. potentialis.] Having power to impress on us the ideas of certain qualities, though the qualities are not inherent in the thing; as potential heat or cold. 1. Existing in possibility, not in act. 2. Efficacious; powerful. [Not in use.] POTEN'TIAL, n. Any thing that may be possible. POTENTIAL'ITY, n. Possibility; not actuality. POTEN'TIALLY, adv. 1. In possibility; not in act; not positively. This duration of human souls is only potentially infinite. 2. In efficacy, not in actuality; as potentially cold. PO'TENT, a. [L. potens.] Powerful; physically strong; forcible; efficacious; as a potent medicine. 1. Powerful, in a moral sense; having great influence; as potent interest; a potent argument. 2. Having great authority, control or dominion; as a potent prince. ACT'UAL, a. 1. Real or effective, or that exists truly and absolutely; as, actual heat, opposed to that, which is virtual or potential. 2. Existing in act; real; in opposition to speculative, or existing in theory only; as an actual crime. 3. In theology, actual sin is that which is committed by a person himself, opposed to original sin, or the corruption of nature supposed to be communicated from Adam. 4. That includes action. ACTUAL'ITY, n. Reality. ACT'UALLY, adv. In fact; really; in truth. EXPECTA'TION, n. [L. expectatio.] The act of expecting or looking forward to a future event with at least some reason to believe the event will happen. Expectation differs from hope. Hope originates in desire, and may exist with little or no ground of belief that the desired event will arrive. Expectation is founded on some reasons which render the event probably. Hope is directed to some good; expectation is directed to good or evil. The same weakness of mind which indulges absurd expectations, produces petulance in disappointment. 1. The state of expecting, either with hope or fear. 2. Prospect of good to come. “My soul, wait thou only on God, for my expectation is from him.” Psalm 62:5 3. The object of expectation; the expected Messiah. 4. A state or qualities in a person which excite expectations in others of some future excellence; as a youth of expectation. We now more generally say, a youth of promise. 5. In chances, expectation is applied to contingent events, and is reducible to computation. A sum of money in expectation, when an event happens, has a determinate value before that event happens. If the chances of receiving or not receiving a hundred dollars, when an event arrives, are equal; then, before the arrival of the event, the expectation is worth half the money. Some of what I have observed or/and read about during my childhood and adulthood: • Parents who try to have their children achieve what they were not able to do, like in sports. • Children who have a hope to accomplish a feat, like win a Olympic Gold Metal, and parents who do all they can to help them. • Most of my childhood peers usually just doing what their teachers and parents wanted.

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A few students who were called negative terms like “dumb”, “stupid”, “silly”, clumsy, etc., and who kept saying and doing things related to the term or terms others were calling them. I have seen some of those individuals change and have great successes usually indicating the opposite of the term or terms they were called in their childhood. Situations which prevented others or me from succeeding in a ministry or job or marriage. Wicked, immoral, or unethical individuals having a lot of successes. (Psalm 37 has helped me deal with this one.) Many individuals who apparently never fulfilled their potentials and don’t have the opportunities to do such (mostly because of age or lack of friends or relatives who have connections or/and money to help).

During my childhood, I was a shy “people-pleaser” for my parents and teachers and other adults. I didn’t ask questions in class, because I didn’t want to be ridiculed by my peers. Later, I was told that I could probably become a good teacher, statistician, physicist, engineer, or pastor. I thought of being a physical therapist, dog trainer, or computer programmer. Even though I loved God, regularly attended church since early in my childhood, and was very moral and ethical, I did not become a true Christian until I was almost 21-years-old. From that day on I just wanted to live for God and the Great Commission. I didn’t know how that was going to be because I had not done any personal Bible study. I did not know my spiritual potential until after a Spiritual Leadership Conference sermon in January 1975. I have experienced many situations I never even thought of or expected. Many times, God’s ways are different than what we think are the best ways to do things. And shouldn’t Christians just want to do what God wants them to do? Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.” Since I was born again on May 25, 1967, I have frequently been living Proverbs 3:5-6 so that I could be sensitive to Holy Spirit guidance. I have been scorned or/and given up by my relatives and acquaintances in my life for not doing what they expected of me. Also I have gone to extremes because of my compassion which I shouldn’t have done usually because of others’ expectations and desires instead of what the Holy Spirit wanted me to do. But I have had many successes, and I have felt a lot of divine peace and divine joy after ministering to or for others. And I have not fulfilled my potential yet. I have had times of discouragement and depression when thinking about that. Now what about you? Do you know your potential? Do you have all of the goals that you need? The following Bible chapter indicates things you might desire to do: Suggestions:

First try to figure out why I formatted the way I did. Then figure out why I switched the locations of verses 9-14. Why do you think that the gift of mercy has so many verses which relate to it? Then decide which words and phrases indicate some of the possible main goals you have or want to have?

Romans 12 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers [and sisters], in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-His good, pleasing, and perfect will. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members,

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and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

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6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's [or woman's] gift is prophesying, let him [or her] use it in proportion to his [or her] faith. 9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 7a If it is serving, let him [or her] serve; 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. 7b Honor one another above yourselves. if it is teaching, let him [or her] teach; 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 8a if it is encouraging [exhorting], let him [or her] encourage [exhort]; 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 8b if it is contributing [giving] to the needs of others, let him [or her] give generously; 13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 8c if it is leadership, let him [or her] govern diligently; 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 8d if it is showing mercy, let him [or her] do it cheerfully. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. [“Be of the same mind toward one another.”] Do not be proud, [“Do not set your mind on high things.”] but be willing to associate with people of low position [the humble]. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay”, says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him [or her]; if he [or she] is thirsty, give him [or her] something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his [or her] head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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