Page 26 - Living Light 91

Friday December 26 - Simeon and Anna
Simeon... praised God, saying “... my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations...” Luke 2:28-32
This devout old man had walked with God for decades and knew the scriptures, including the prophecies about the coming Messiah which he longed to be fulfilled. Regularly worshipping at the temple, he – like Jesus several years later – was probably grieved at the noise and commotion of the profit-hungry moneychangers and sellers of sacrificial pigeons in God’s ‘house of prayer for all nations’ (Isaiah 56:7). So the Holy Spirit tenderly urged him to go to the temple courts just as Joseph and Mary, having fulfilled the days of purification after the birth, were arriving to consecrate their first- born to the Lord with the required offering.
Simeon immediately realised who they were! He embraced the baby and spoke out praise to God, prophesying, “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed” (Luke 2:34-35). Just then, Anna, a very elderly widow, sidled up, burst into song and affirmed Simeon’s recognition of the longed-for Messiah! God knew that both of them desired to see him before they died and lovingly arranged it. I imagine this encounter was neither sedate nor quiet! The elderly duo were probably an embarrassment to the temple! How God rejoiced though, because he responds perfectly to the prayers of those he loves.
Father God, please help me to keep praying for my heart’s deepest desires, and may I receive your answer at just the right time. Amen.
Saturday December 27 - Jesus growing up
“Why were you searching for me... Didn’t you know I had to be in my
Father’s house?” Luke 2:47-49
Twelve years later, Jesus is back in the temple, in Jerusalem with his family for Passover. Now passed from boyhood to become a Jewish adult, he is taking his destiny seriously, coming to sit among the rabbis to debate scripture, with uncanny insight! Days later, Joseph and Mary realise he is not with their travelling group and hurry back to find him. His mother understandably scolds him for worrying them so much but Jesus, apparently mystified that his parents fail to understand, replies in much the same way as any twelve-year-old I have known! He is still an immature adolescent but as the curtain falls on this scene we read these words: ‘he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them... Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man’ (Luke 2:51-52).
This week we have reflected that Jesus’ miraculous coming was ordained and planned from heaven itself, fulfilling Old Testament promises and honoured by angels. But at the same time, how down-to-earth it all was! He had a humble birth among ordinary people – apart from a surprise visit from some exotic foreign sages! His childhood had its ups and downs, but there were many more uneventful days than ones filled with prophetic utterances. Jesus was as human as we are, but without sin, and yet he was and is the Son of God!
Lord God, I cannot meet Jesus in the flesh but please reveal his perfect character to me, that I may love him more. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
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PRAYER FOR TODAY