It’s been a minute since I’ve chosen a #oneword365 and I’m not sure that I’m choosing one this year. But the notion of Time has been swirling around my realm enough these first few weeks of 2024 that it has my attention.
Time is an almost magical element. Seeming to become shorter the longer you have experienced it. And nothing shortens Time more than waiting. We discussed spending Time vs. redeeming Time in a previous post. If I had to guess, I would say most of us consider waiting a spending of our time rather than a redeeming. But is it really?
Matthew Henry says, “Our time is a talent given us by God for some good end, and it is misspent and lost when it is not employed according to His design.”
Can waiting be for ‘some good end,’ carried out ‘according to His design?’
Absolutely! And Simeon, one of the two witnesses in Luke’s gospel, is a perfect example.
“And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.” (Luke 2:25)
Godly waiting is so much more than being inactive until something occurs. The Greek word used here is prosdechomai (pros-dekh’-om-ahee) and the implication is, “to look for” with a view to a favorable reception.
Godly waiting involves both Hope and Trust. The hope of Hebrews 11:1:
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
And the trust of Numbers 23:19:
“God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”
The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would live to see the Lord’s Christ. The Consolation of Israel: the Comforter.
The Messiah.
Simeon had waited faithfully and when, at last, Mary and Joseph arrived at the Temple to present Jesus to the Lord (Ex 13:2), Simeon was there.
Simeon and Anna (Luke 2:36) were faithful witnesses, chosen by God to hold the baby Jesus (!) and speak a blessing over Him.
The Jews of Jesus’ day were expecting the Messiah to save them from their oppressors, the Romans. Instead, they watched their Deliverer die in the manner of the accursed; nailed to a cross. Instead of saving them from the Romans, Jesus saved them from their sin. Instead of conquering a political system, He conquered death.
So we could live.
Simeon and Anna had seen the truth of the salvation He would bring and declared it.
“For my eyes have seen Your salvation Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel." (Luk 2:30-32)
People today continue to be confused about who Jesus is and why He came. Like the Jews of Simeon’s day, many have stopped hearing His voice. Many have lost the hope of His return.
Beloved, we are called to be the Simeons and Annas of our day. Our lives should reveal two things:
The faithful waiting of Simeon - a life lived in joyful anticipation and readiness for His return. Maranatha! O, Lord Come!
The faithful witnessing of Anna - always ready to give an explanation for the joyful hope we have in Christ.
“And coming in that instant she [Anna] gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:38)
Simeon and Anna spent their lives redeeming the time. (Eph 5:16; Col 4:5)
We can too.
Love this!!
Sometimes it feels as of time is flying and I'm super busy, but not really accomplishing much. Sometimes I miss the forest for all the trees... The days are short and the years are long and I forget that in all the Big and small moments God is working. I pray I'm not so busy "doing" that I forget to expect God to show up, that I forget to wait for Him. I get so wrapped up in my to-do lists that I miss the joy and awe of being alive in such a time as this! Time is shorter than I realize, I need to use it wisely and be intentional about seeking God and proclaiming Him to a world that has truly forgotten He is coming back.
Anna & Simeon. I love the picture of them literally holding their long awaited savior. 🙌🏼