All the preparations, all the hussel and bussel, Holiday shopping for the right gifts, supermarket fiasco’s and waiting in long lines, listening to people grumble what they don’t have, people rushing and causing some road rage, everyone disgusted with wearing a crummy mask, and some having to worry about what they plan to fix for Christmas dinner, what gift cards to buy, what recipes to prepare, money spent and some on needless things sometimes, so much food that some of it went to waste. On and On it goes! Blah Blah Blah
Another Holiday for some people, another headache for others. Its sometimes a repeat of previous year for some people I know.
Christmas Eve, asking to open just ONE present! I know as a child, I wanted something to wet my appetite for the big finale of Christmas Day right! The excitement of ripping the paper right off the package, throwing it up into the air while mom got a garbage bag ready to pickup the pieces.
What fun!!!!
So you see here friends, two separate sides of the story.
The oneside Christmas was for some a rather daughting experience with unneeded stress, anxiety and despair, and the other side the benefit of a child or parent opening a unseen package that had love taped to it in every corner where scotch tape made its mark from the thoughtful person who put it all together for the moment of enjoyment!
This is a repeat performance friends of modern day Christmas! But what I wanted to talk about today, is what we are missing at times from Christmas, the Great Anticipation!
The word waiting and patience is part of Christmas. Tis the season to be waiting! Waiting for the meal to be ready, waiting for Christmas package opening day, waiting in the long lines.
Much to the fact of waiting, we today as it was centuries and even millennium’s ago, the anticipation and waiting for the coming messiah, the anointed one!
Lets recap, it was about 700 years before Christ was born that Isaiah prophesied of Jesus birth. And other prophets of old gave prophesies to expect the coming of the chosen one as well. The process and work of waiting, anticipating, is something that isn’t new, actually its expected!
So there was once a man named Simeon and women named Anna in Jesus days.
These two were devoted followers of God.
Simeon was righteous. That word 'righteous' suggests that Simeon wasn't only righteous before God... it also meant that he had a good reputation among men. He was a man of high moral character.
Luke also tells us that Simeon was devout. That word 'devout' can also be translated to mean 'holy.' It speaks of Simeon's character before God. It means that he was seen as 'holy' in the eyes of God.
Simeon was righteous man that was expecting a messiah to come before he died. Scripture tells us first of all, he was ''looking forward to Israel's consolation...'' What does that mean? That was a phrase that referred to the time when God would send His Messiah to ''console'' or ''comfort'' His people.
Simeon looked forward to that day. But secondly, Simeon was looking forward to meeting the Messiah! He looked forward to meeting this baby, King Jesus, personally!
Now looking at this closely, simeon was looking forward to meeting the messiah, BUT, God gave him an answered prayer.
“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart inpeace,
According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation
Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to
Bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”
The great anticipation and waiting for the coming of the chosen one, was here for simeon. All the waiting, praying, fasting, all that he done, was worth while because his prayers was answered along with the fulfillment of Gods word came to life!
Then simeon goes on saying:
“Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will bespoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
Friends, the waited anticipation for the chosen one, was worth the wait wasn’t it? Much like waiting for Christmas except the anxiety and stress that we put on ourselves.
Now lets look at Anna, a prophetess that was eighty four years old. Scripture tells us she did not depart from the temple, but served
God with fastings and prayers night and day. WOW!
Very devoted person she was! She gives us a glimpse into the realm of a genuine righteous person doesn’t she.
So what have you learned from these two people?
How about this Luke 1:37 “No word from God will ever fail.”
What God promises, he will fulfull it. All promises will be revealed with hope.
What I think is important here to see is three things about Semeon and Anna
The holy spirit was with them
The holy spirit revealed to them the coming child
The holy spirit guided them into the temple where Christ child was at
Both of them praised God didn’t they!
Friends, we sometimes wait for things don’t we?
God puts that into our area of life for a lesson at times, but most importantly to wait for the better plan he has for us.
Psalms tells us “Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.”
Theres nothing God cannot do!
So preparing for Christmas as I mentioned at the beginning, all the stress, anxiety, waiting, could that have been handled better? Just think how much different it would be if we put a different flavor to our Christmas routine, how a different results would come about!
COVID-19 didn’t bring stress and anxiety to Christmas, it was already there, we just added to it!
Let me close in stating this friends:
Peace is never a product of our circumstances. Peace is always a by-product of pursuing godly character. Putting God First!
It’s a choice isn’t it!
So inclosing friends, having anticipation is something we all have and need, but what are you truly anticipating?
Should it be for the right time to do something, get something,
OR
Wait for Gods perfect timing in your life and the world by allowing him to work in us and with us towards the betterment of our lives and his kingdom.
Life is a vapor scripture tells us, its brief, temporary. There isn’t much time on earth friends believe it or not to make a decision of WHO JESUS IS in your life.
Please do not wait friends! Keep seeking Christ first in every area of your life, and anticipate his coming both as the messiah and personal saviour not just at Christmas, every day of your life.
Amen