Topic: Simeon and Anna: Single Hearted Devotion – Discover the Book by Dr John Barnett 17 December 2021
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Simeon and Anna: Single Hearted Devotion
Today we turn again to the story of Christ’s birth which is the record that God gave to us of Christmas. Each element of Christ’s birth is rich in truth that God wanted us to know. This is one of the richest paragraphs in all the New Testament chapters devoted to Christ’s Coming.
Unless we are the one in a hundred million who die by being struck by a meteorite, or the one in a million that die from a fall off a bus, or the one in a hundred thousand that are run over by a taxicab—most of us will probably grow old and die at 79.4 years of age.
So this Christmas, as life speeds by—how do we grow old in such a way to end well and finish life awaiting Christ’s well done good and faithful servant? Since many of us will end our pilgrimage alone with our partner preceding us, how will we finish well old and alone for some of those years?
Today there are two elderly saints dominated by the consequences of wonderful choices that they made. They are remarkable models for us to follow as each of us ponders what the Lord has offered us this Christmas season. Please join me in Luke 2:22 for their biography.
The first Christmas gives us one of the clearest challenges that every one of us who know and love Jesus need to hear. This challenge comes from the lives of Simeon and Anna. The message—a life walking in the Spirit to the end that receives Christ’s well done good and faithful servants.
Let’s look at some of the elements we will see from the life of Simeon and Anna in Luke 2:22-40.
Simeon was Spirit Illumined: 2:26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
Simeon was Spirit Led: 2:27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law,
Also Read: Open Heaven 17 December 2021 –Topic: THE HABITATION OF THE LORD
Simeon was Spirit Satisfied:2:28-29 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: 29 “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word”
Now look at the elements of the life of Anna. She lives out the Scriptural pattern for ending life pleasing to God.
Anna was Staying faithful and fruitful to the end of her life: 2:36 Anna had grown old but kept on serving the Lord, as she “worshiped Him by prayer and fasting”.
Anna was Willing to be what God wanted her to be: 2:36b — even if its not much by others estimation! She was a nobody except to God.
Anna was Avoiding/Resisting the crippling attitudes of despair, disillusionment and bitterness: 2:37a Anna had known pain, but kept on trusting the Lord as a “widow”.
Anna was Giving what she had: 2:37b– time to pray and fast.
Anna was Praising the Lord immediately: 2:38b — when she saw an answer to her prayers.
Anna was Willing to share with others: 2:38b — what God was doing in her life.