Introduction
This may seem late, but my family, myself, and Enhance celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas.
That means that we not only celebrate Christmas leading up until Christmas Eve-December 24th, which is known as Advent, but for us that means that December 25th is the first day of Christmas and we celebrate Christmas all the way to January 5th. This is better known as Christmastide.
This is an Ancient Practice, which began in 567 A.D., which practices celebrating the birth of Christ and all that it entails as well as all of the events leading to and following the actual birth.
For me, I have seen firsthand that it eliminates the stress of trying to cram all of the celebration into a single day, which as a parent means that I always feel like I forgot something, or I wasn’t able to do everything I wanted.
But with celebrating over 12 days, I not only get to do exactly what I want for my family, and celebrate exactly how I want, but I also get to focus on teaching my children the important aspects of the birth of Christ and engrain the wonder of His power and this season into them.
This also really satisfies the Christmas fanatic in me.
This year we decided to slowly introduce the idea of Christmastide to you, our Enhance Family, with this simple devotion, and look forward to sharing the full 12 days including Advent with you next year.
The Devotion
[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[1].
As a child, I always had a close relationship with the Lord.
As long as I can remember I could always feel Him ever so close to me and leading me my entire life.
When you walk with God on that level you would think that people would want to join you and lock in on the discipline that you have learned in order to also get to that place in God.
But instead, many times it breeds contempt, misunderstanding, and in many cases persecution.
But when you have reached that place in God it does not matter what issues you may have in life. You have the heart of God, His ear, and His promises concerning you.
This was the case for the man the Bible identifies as Simeon. Despite all the people that may have called Simeon crazy, half-witted, or his prophecies off, or not of God, Simeon had the faith to believe what he knew he heard the Lord say.
The Bible says that he was righteous and devout. He had given himself fully to the Lord, and the Lord made known to him by the Holy Spirit, that he was going to see the Lord Jesus born before he died.
There are a few things that must be examined in this story. The first is the obvious fact that the Lord made known to a righteous man what was getting ready to happen after He had not spoken to Israel for a span of four hundred years.
This is proof and an indicator that the Lord responds to those who aggressively pursue Him.
The next is that the scriptures say that THE HOLY SPIRIT made known to him that he would not die until he saw Jesus.
Before Jesus came on the scene the Spirit of God would come upon people, and make known things to people, but He could not live on the inside of man because there had not yet been a vessel or sacrifice meaningful enough to make man worthy to be the Temple of the Lord.
But as soon as Jesus came on the scene the Holy Spirit was already sweeping through the land. John was filled with the Holy Spirit before it was even a thing and received it in his mother’s womb.
But back to Simeon. What made him so important and so special that God was willing to make him this type of promise?
You must also consider this.
Many claimed to be the Messiah during this time period. Israel was desperate for their Savior after being conquered for so long, and now being under the rule of a “godless” and “ruthless” nation.
Could you imagine the anxiety, frustration, and expectation Israel must have felt, especially knowing that so many claimed to be the “Chosen One”, but time and time again they just didn’t add up? Simeon continues to keep the faith despite all of this.
Are there things in your life that have not gone as planned or expected? Are there things in your life that you thought were from God, but it turned out to just be a disappointment?
My encouragement to you is to just hold on a little while longer. The God that promised that He would do it, is the same God that cannot lie. If He spoke it, then it must come to pass.
[19] God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? [20] Behold, I received a command to bless: he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it[2].
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, [11] so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it[3].
But who was Simeon? What made him so special to God that God chose to reveal to him the real Messiah, and to record his name down in history as the man that God promised would not die until he saw the Chosen One?
I will tell you; He wanted God more than anything else.
One of the things I love about God is that He rewards faithfulness. He never overlooks those who are willing to give Him their all, no matter how long it may take to see the fruit of your labor.
Reflection Questions:
1. What promise has God made you that has yet come to pass?
2. What does God keeping His promise to keep Simeon alive until the Messiah came mean for the promise that He has made you?
3. How can you reaffirm your commitment to God?
4. What area of your life do you need Christ to come in?
Although I am writing these words to pray, feel free to pray whatever Holy Spirit leads.
Prayer:
Father,
Thank You that You are a God of Your word and a God of Your promise. Just as You promised from the beginning of time to send humanity a savior, and You knew before the beginning of time that humanity would need a Savior, you kept Your word. You have never let me down before, and I thank You that You won’t start now.
You have a track record of being a trustworthy King.
Help me to trust Your timing, and although I may feel as if You are taking too long, or not moving fast enough, help me to see that Your sense of urgency is perfect and that Your promise has a set day that will make it the most impactful and meaningful thing that has ever happened to me.
In Jesus Name,
Amen.
[1] Luke 2:25-35 ESV
[2] Numbers 23:19-20 ESV
[3] Isaiah 55:10-11 ESV