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. ...
"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 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. With the wars going on in Palestine, Ukraine, mass shootings, inflation, and other today’s life challenges, 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!
I want to encourage you to join me by also sharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
As the year draws to an end, please give and help Nancy and I help them!
My wife Nancy and I in our ministries are pouring completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods, and having “boots on the ground” serving in our community.. Please pray over this season in our lives and that of our family and ODC. Please partner and support us and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation now for next year, or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You Thank You!
