25 Days of Christmas
Today's Reading: Luke 2:21-38
And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 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. 27 And he came in 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, 28 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;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Through the Bible Readings: Jonah 1-2, Jude, Psalm 140:1–8, Proverbs30:15–16
If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings.
Devotional: He Satisfies Our Souls
Today, we begin a new focus in this series. We've looked at the prophecies of Jesus' birth and about other aspects of his life and ministry on earth. Now we turn our attention to the life of Jesus from the moment the birth narratives ended until Jesus died on the cross for our sins. We will only look at his
life in a brief overview, but it is important, as we seek to understand Christmas, to remember the life that followed the birth in Bethlehem.
Simeon was an old man who hung out in the temple courts for one reason. The Holy Spirit had told him that he would not die until he saw the long-promised Messiah, the hope of the ages. Moved deeply in his soul he went to the Temple that day and saw the baby. He knew. Immediately, he knew that this was the One. The Messiah.
For many years he'd looked for, longed for, sought after one thing and now he had seen what God promised. The baby was the incarnation of all of God's goodness and power. He held the baby and he knew that God had done what he said he would do.
It's a simple thought today, my friends. Jesus is the one who satisfies the soul. You can seek anything and everything, you can go anywhere to find hope and joy and happiness and peace. But Simeon went to the dwelling-place of God - the temple - and he saw the Son. His soul was satisfied.
It is when you go to God and seek Jesus that your soul will be satisfied. Jesus said something similar to this when he admonished his disciples to "Seek first the kingdom" and that "all these things will be added to you." It is when we go to God and seek his Son that our souls will be satisfied with his goodness.
Simeon was an old man who hung out in the temple courts for one reason. The Holy Spirit had told him that he would not die until he saw the long-promised Messiah, the hope of the ages. Moved deeply in his soul he went to the Temple that day and saw the baby. He knew. Immediately, he knew that this was the One. The Messiah.
For many years he'd looked for, longed for, sought after one thing and now he had seen what God promised. The baby was the incarnation of all of God's goodness and power. He held the baby and he knew that God had done what he said he would do.
It's a simple thought today, my friends. Jesus is the one who satisfies the soul. You can seek anything and everything, you can go anywhere to find hope and joy and happiness and peace. But Simeon went to the dwelling-place of God - the temple - and he saw the Son. His soul was satisfied.
It is when you go to God and seek Jesus that your soul will be satisfied. Jesus said something similar to this when he admonished his disciples to "Seek first the kingdom" and that "all these things will be added to you." It is when we go to God and seek his Son that our souls will be satisfied with his goodness.
Thank you, Father, for the satisfaction you give when we seek your Son.
Think and Pray :
What is it that you seek?
Where do you go to find the satisfaction of your soul?
Go to God today for everything your soul needs.
Where do you go to find the satisfaction of your soul?
Go to God today for everything your soul needs.
Carol of the Day:
Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.
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