Day 12 of Our Christmas Devotional

Thursday-December 12

There were three groups of people who saw the Lord in His birth stories. The shepherds were the first group who came on the night of His birth. They had received a word and obeyed it. The second group did not come to the manger but met Him eight days after His birth in the temple in Jerusalem.

The six miles between Bethlehem and Jerusalem was a short trip compared with the journey from Galilee to Bethlehem. As a good Jewish family, Joseph and Mary obeyed the Law and brought their son to be circumcised on the eighth day as they had been taught (Genesis 17:9-14; Leviticus 12:3). But there was more required than the action of circumcision. A number of things had to be done. There was the naming of the baby. Luke says they named Him Jesus as instructed by Gabriel. They had to wait till the end of Mary's purification after childbirth to go to the temple and they when they arrived they offered an offering for her purification. After that the baby was presented to the Lord (Luke 2:21-24).

Luke 2:21–24 (KJV 1900)

²¹And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

²²And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;

²³(As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

²⁴And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

It was during the Temple trip that the second group saw Him. They did not go where He was but they waited for Him to come to them. They were different than the shepherds who saw Him because of their obedience to the word. They were led by something else, the Spirit and a promise!

The group was not defined by their occupation but by their age. They were the senior citizens of the day. Their gender was different but they are the same in character, thoughts of the future and their response when they see the baby. They are both described by Luke as being devoted to Jehovah (2:25-27; 2:36-37) . Their thoughts of the future where wrapped around the God redeeming Israel from their enemies and ushering in an age of peace. Yet what is more astonishing is that they both see this baby involved in that feat of victory (2:26-32; 2:38)! Praise is the response they both give to God after seeing the baby (2:28, 38)!

Why do they get the opportunity to see the Lord? They are led by the Spirit! Twice this fact is spoken of concerning Simeon.

Luke 2:25–26 (KJV 1900)

²⁵And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

²⁶And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

We can see that Anna's whole life is wrapped around the temple spending much time in fasting and prayer! This speaks that her life is led by the Spirit!

Luke 2:36-37 (KJV 1900)

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.

Not only do they have the special opportunity to see the baby because of their Spirit led life, Simeon and Anna know how to handle a promise! Promises can be handled different ways. Sometimes they laid away when life's trouble become over whelming. Other times they are placed in storage and forgotten because of the business of life as in providing for family. Often we search for the place we stored them tragedy strikes an individual's life or family. We know that a promise is important for it gives us hope in the face of fear and/or defeat!

But that is not how these two handled their promises. They held on to them and allowed them to guide their thoughts and actions. Look at the text that describes Simeon's promise and actions. Notice the words in parenthesis and the underlined phrases:

Luke 2:26–35 (KJV 1900)

²⁶And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that (Promise) he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

²⁷(Action) And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

²⁸(Action) Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

²⁹(Promise) Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart In peace, according to thy word:

³⁰For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

³¹Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

³²A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

³³And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

³⁴And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

³⁵(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

When we examine the text concerning Anna and promise we can readily see the action and acknowledge that the promise is understood by the read even though it is not spoken. Her "great age" and the length of her service of coming to the temple for prayers and fasting speaks of her action of holding on to her promise. Her actions of when she sees the baby tell us that she had a promise!

Luke 2:38 (KJV 1900)

³⁸And (Action) she coming in that instant (Action) gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and (Action) spake of him to all them (Promise) that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

Let me put on my own words: she turns to those around her who have known and seen her faithful coming to the temple and says: "Look! Here's the One I've been telling you about for years! I told you that I would get to see Him! He's the One that will lead us to victory!"

From these two we gain insight into the fact that the Spirit led people are people who will see Jesus! Individuals who know how to pray and put the knowledge into practice will know the way of the Lord! Also that people who are Spirit filled and allow the Spirit to lead them will receive promises. Individuals who endure and hang on to promises from God through all trials and tribulations will see the fruit of the promise!

Your Response:

Take time to slowly read and mediate on the scriptures below.Plan a time of prayer. Ask God for help in learning the sound of His voice. Promise to God that when you feel Him talking to you that you will respond and obey.

Listen to the song "He's Able" by Deitrick Haddon @  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTXKQq1OZ_s  

Sing along the following words of the chorus:

            "God is able to do just what He said He would do!

            He gonna fulfil every promise to you!

            Don't give up on God for He won't give up on you"

            He's Able!!!!!!! He's Able!!!!!

Write down your promises from God and keep them before you! Speak your promises to others who believe in you and your ministry!

Led by the Spirit:

Romans 8:14 (KJV 1900)

¹⁴For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

John 16:13 (KJV 1900)

¹³Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

John 14:26 (KJV 1900)

²⁶But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Romans 8:26 (KJV 1900)

²⁶Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Promises of God:

2 Peter 1:4 (KJV 1900)

⁴Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

¹¹For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Matthew 11:28–29 (KJV 1900)

²⁸Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Philippians 4:19 (KJV 1900)

¹⁹But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Luke 11:9–13 (KJV 1900)

⁹And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

¹⁰For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

¹¹If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?

¹²Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?

¹³If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?