Are you a Simeon, an Anna or both?
12/27/2020
Luke 2:36–38 (KJV)
36And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;
37And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
38And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
Last Sunday, I heard a sermon on the role that Simeon plays in the Christmas story. How he looked forward to seeing Jesus before he died. It made me wonder if the Christians of 2020 are doing the same. Are we focused on seeing Jesus face to face?
Then as is my habit I read farther in the scripture and God highlighted the above scriptures about Anna. Where the Bible tells us that Simeon announced who Jesus was then worshipped and blessed Him. We now see in Anna an example of what we are to do in the next step in our walk with God.
Here we see Anna, a woman of 100 or more years, still active for God doing His work and as soon as she saw Jesus, she gave thanks unto the Lord and then spoke about Him to everyone that would listen and maybe even those that did not want to hear of Him.
Do we hear a good sermon and then tell everyone about that sermon? Or do we hear it, pray a little prayer about it and then forget it? We should all be like Simeon and Anna. Look for Jesus, worship Jesus and then tell everyone about Jesus and how we need Him in our lives now so that we might live with Him for all eternity.
Will you accept the challenge? The challenge of living for God in such a way that when the end of time approaches there will be no doubt that you are a follower of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Will you be a living Bible to those you meet in your daily lives, or will you leave them in doubt as to your belief in God?
C.I. Wilson