Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. (Luke 2:25, NIV)
You’re not a child anymore, so you may not have the same expectant hope this time of year as you did years ago. And yet, you may be waiting for something—the arrival of family, the taste of Christmas ham, even a “little something” you bought yourself that’s out there on a UPS truck even as we speak.
Of course, the marketing agencies count on your not having given up those hopes, even at your age. They have perfumes and jewelry and automobiles with bows on them, just for you, should you take the bait. Nothing like a few big ticket items to satisfy you for another year, right?
“Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see.” The old Sunday school song came with words of warning for many of our functions: eyes, ears, tongue, hands. But maybe it should have dug deeper: “Oh, be careful, wandering soul, what you crave.”
They were Simeon and Anna, aged but devoted, their attentions fixed on the promises of God. At the pinnacle of these promises was the Messiah.If the Scripture does anything well, it is to unveil our idolatrous desires. Adultery was the chief metaphor of misdirected faith in the Old Testament. Jesus was more straightforward: “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Mark 8:36).
Set against such warning, however, we find examples of those whose hearts of faith seemed ever set on what mattered most. Two of these should show up in your seasonal reading. They were Simeon and Anna, aged but devoted, their attentions fixed on the promises of God. At the pinnacle of these promises was the Messiah. He was, they were overwhelmingly certain, coming. Then it was revealed to them: the time had come. The Savior was here.
When Joseph and Mary presented Jesus for dedication at the temple, Simeon and Anna’s waiting was over. “The consolation of Israel,” “salvation,” and “redemption” had arrived in the child before them. They were in awe and deeply grateful that their waiting was over.
I wonder what we wait for and how much it matters. Are we looking for blessings for our soul, or things that count for so much less? It’s easy to be thrilled with earth’s shiny ribbons when the best things are those that come from above.
—
Jeff Hopper
December 20, 2019
Copyright 2019 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
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