Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name and listen for Your voice to begin my day deliberately, intentionally embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with Your Holy Spirit. ...
This morning as I sat at my desk I read the story of Christ’s birth in Luke.
"Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah" (Luke 2:25).
Simeon longed for the coming of the Messiah. He longed to see and embrace the One who would bring consolation and comfort, healing and hope, forgiveness and freedom to all who would welcome Him into their hearts.
He knew from the prophecies of Scripture that this Child to be born - the Messiah, the Christ --would be fully God from the glory of Heaven, but also fully man in the likeness of human flesh and blood. "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel" -- meaning "God with us" (Isaiah 7:14, fulfilled in Matthew 1:23). By the Spirit of the Lord, Isaiah had prophesied long ago: "For a Child has been born for us, a Son given to us; authority rests upon His shoulders; and He is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.... The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this" (Isaiah 9:6-7).
In this now 8 months and counting long pandemic season we have grown weary and long for hope and relief from it. In the 400 year season of waiting between the Old Testament and the New Testament, before the birth of Christ, the Israelites grew weary and longed for God to act in their lives. In this Christmas season of Advent, we long for the coming of the Messiah. Like Simeon, we long to see and embrace the One who finally brings consolation and comfort, healing and hope, forgiveness and freedom to all who welcome Christ into their hearts. And at the same time, we no longer have to wait for a future day on the calendar to finally embrace you and welcome to You into our hearts. We can do it this morning! For you are with us always (Matthew 28:20). You are Immanuel -- God with us (Matthew 1:23). So what are you waiting for? Take time, right now and embrace Jesus! Every moment of every day, You are our "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). So as we long for Your coming in the celebration of Christmas, we also celebrate Your Presence with us now, In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray this morning you will stop what you are doing and intentionally in Gods word and prayer embrace Jesus and experience the Presence of Immanuel --the One who is your Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same of me. God bless you, my friends!
In the 10 days leading up to Christmas spend time reading the stories of Jesus’ birth in Matthew and Luke.
Please share your reflections and prayers in the comment box below.
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