Give thanks to the Lord, the long awaited Savior has come!
At Christmas time, we often think of the angels and shepherds or Mary and Joseph when they came into Bethlehem but find no room in the inn. Let’s consider this sweet and beautiful portion of what took place in Luke’s account, Luke 2:25-38. The baby has been born and the rejoicing continues in the temple.
Anna and Simeon were both elderly and prayerful. Simeon was “waiting for the Consolation of Israel and the Holy Spirit was upon him” (Luke 2:25).
Here is what Isaiah 40:1-2 tells us concerning this consolation.
“Comfort, yes, comfort My people!”
Says your God.
“Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her,
That her warfare is ended,
That her iniquity is pardoned;
Anna had been widowed for a very long time. It seems that she had taken up a life of watchfulness with prayer and fasting, night and day. I would call her devoted and special. By special I mean, holy. She had set herself apart for the service of prayer and fasting. I think of her when I read 2 Co 7:1, “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God”.
She inspires me. She lived with her husband for only seven years then was widowed and here she is eighty-four years of age. Somewhere in her grief she found purpose in serving God.
Maybe she had learned from her father what serving God meant. His name was Phanuel meaning – the face of God. He belonged to the tribe of Asher, meaning blessed or happy. Anna had a heritage of godliness and in her grief as a young widow she chose to serve, happily.
These two elderly friends may have had many conversations about the One they waited for. As a woman close to God she recognized the beautiful opportunity to rejoice over the little one Simeon held, the Messiah and Savior, as the Spirit of God had revealed to Simeon in Luke 2:27.
I ask myself often, what shall I do while I wait for God? How shall I serve Him? Maybe in prayer and fasting? Not many are given to this kind of service!
The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly, For the salvation of the LORD. Lamentations 3:25,26
The Savior came as a Child, died as a Man and rose as the One with the power to save. He certainly is the One who comforts and consoles all who are lonely and all who are waiting for His soon return. Which one are you? Lonely or waiting?
How will you serve while you wait? The Savior who came as a babe will come again, soon!
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. Revelation 22:12