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Luke 1:5-7
Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.
New International Version (NIV)
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“Aslan is on the move,” the animals whispered with anticipation in C. S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. The land of Narnia, where it was “always winter but never Christmas” was beginning to thaw. All that was evil began to tremble in fear. Luke tells a similar story as he shares what his research revealed. God was on the move. Gabriel came to the temple before he came to Mary. Then God came in the form of a baby.
Luke’s story confirms Henry Blackaby’s wisdom, “We cannot go with God and stay where we are.” If we are going to go with God, we will have to move because our God is on the move. God’s promises drew Simeon to the temple. I awakened this morning thinking about the words to the Christmas Carol:
“Saints before the altar bending
Watching long in hope and fear
Suddenly the Lord descending
In his temple shall appear.”
God, who had left the temple in Ezekiel’s day, came back in surprising disguise. A baby carried by Mary and Joseph came to the temple. Simeon did not miss the moment. Neither did Anna who had camped out there day and night waiting for God. God so often reveals himself to those who are looking for him. Are we looking? Would we know it if God showed up in our world? Here is an invitation to corporate worship with other believers in the new year. “Where two or more are gathered, there I will be in the midst of them,” Jesus would tell his disciples. Sunday was a day off for me and most pastors I know. But I found myself in worship with other believers, bowing in hope and anticipation in prayer before an altar.
Do not be surprised if God shows up in a church near you this weekend. Because he is on the move, it is always Christmas and never winter. Suddenly, when we least expect it, God is on the move. What shall we do? “Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ the newborn King.”
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Pray with me:
Father, we hear that you are on the move. Immanuel, you have come to stay with us. Help us to stay with you, to stay close, to find in you everything we need. We will not stay where we have been. Help us to go with you. Since we live by your Spirit, let us keep in step with your Spirit today, we pray. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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| In 2020 our Every Day with Jesus readings will follow the Foundations New Testament reading plan. Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy at REPLICATE.ORG
We would love for you to join us as we read the New Testament through this year, five chapters a week. Every other week after this one you have seven days to read five chapters. This week I will do two bonus devotionals for Saturday and Sunday so that on Monday we are on track with the plan and begin week two in Luke 6. After this week you will have seven days to read five chapters. In addition I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year. Use Robby Gallaty’s H. E. A. R. plan to study each chapter. Highlight verses which speak to you, explain what they mean in your own words in a journal, apply them to your own life, then respond by doing what God tells you to do.
Joyfully,
Duane
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