55+ Devo

Introduction

Can I share with y’all a little secret? On November 2nd, my wife surprised me with the most wonderful news that come July 11th, we’re expecting our first child. Now there are a few things in life that tI know that I was put on this earth to do and being a dad is one of them. So instantly I was overwhelmed with such joy and hope and wonder.

My mind already flashes to what might be. I loved baseball so maybe my kid will love baseball. Maybe I’ll have a little girl that will love to play with dolls or maybe she’ll love running around and scraping her knees and all of that.

But whatever the case may be, July cannot get here soon enough. I sit and think of how far away that is. All the doctor’s visits and tending to my wife’s cravings there is between now and then. And this sense of anticipation and waiting just keeps building up until this really wonderful thing happens.

This all makes this season of advent really unique to my wife and I as we prepare for this celebration, commemorating the first coming of our Lord Jesus. Advent by definition means, expectant waiting and preparation and I hope that is where we all find ourselves in the hustle and bustle of this season. That we wouldn’t be consumed by the fanfare, all the ads and shopping to be done, but we would intentionally slow down and draw near as Christ intended we do when he came to this earth and took on flesh.

So I want to ask you, have you prepared your heart this Christmas season? Not necessarily for all the pleasantries and good times with family, though those are good things, but have you sought the Spirit to prepare you for this wonderful news that our King has come?

That was the hope and the focus of this man named Simeon in Luke chapter 2

Proclamation

(CSB)

SIMEON’S PROPHETIC PRAISE

25 There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel’s consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for him what was customary under the law, 28 Simeon took him up in his arms, praised God, and said,

      29 Now, Master,

      you can dismiss your servant in peace,

      as you promised.

      30 For my eyes have seen your salvation.

      31 You have prepared it

      in the presence of all peoples—

      32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

      and glory to your people Israel.

The preparation of our hearts

And so too do we find ourselves anxiously awaiting and leaning into the promise of God. This devout man no doubt had the promises of God well-engrained into his soul. Promises like that we’ve been pouring over as a church over these past few Sundays.

6 For a child will be born for us,

      a son will be given to us,d

      and the government will be on his shoulders.e

      He will be named

      Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

      Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

And God revealed to this man through the Holy Spirit, “you will not pass away until you see the Lord’s Messiah, Israel’s consolation and comfort. I don’t know how long Simeon carried this news with him but you can imagine how instantly this placed a sense of hope and anxious anticipation on him. 

Many of us will come together here in a week and we’ll exchange gifts in celebration of one another and growing up I would hope, and hope, and hope, that maybe I got a new video game, or maybe I got a new baseball bat for the next baseball season. But can you imagine being this man, being told, you will not pass away until you see the one who will deliver God’s people to freedom everlasting. 

That is what we come and celebrate this Christmas season. So again I ask, is your heart ready this advent season? Have you missed it? The season of advent is meant to draw us in deeper to know God though the coming of His Son, Jesus. Have you taken a moment to step back and be truly romanced by the gravity of that truth? 

That we who were once far from God have been brought near because God came to us, not as a warlord, not as king lavished in fine things, but as a humble child born in a manger. 

Illustration: I’ve shared with you that my wife and I are joyously expecting our first. But I’ve seen many of my friends go before me and start wonderful families. 

For a time I served in a ministry called Young Life, and here myself and fellow leaders would make our way into local high schools to build relationships, earn our right to be heard so that we might be able to share the Gospel with high school friends. You’d see us at football games, on the sidelines, in the lunchroom, all with the hopes that we could make a friend and share with them how it is that Christ had radically changed our lives. 

I had friends who were stationed at really difficult ministry ares. Inner city schools with kids who were just flat out hard to connect with. But every so often it would happen that a female leader would bring around their baby or their young child, and instantly these hard and calloused hearts would melt away. They would draw near and one who just a bit ago was ready to spew hatred out of their mouth was reverted to baby talk.

Isn’t that what Christ can do? He can take the hard of heart and he bids us to draw near. And through a life-changing relationship, he replaces that heart of stone with one of flesh and he bids us to come and dwell with him forever.

The deliverance of the faithful

So again, are your hearts ready this Christmas season? I hope that we can all find ourselves more like Simeon this Christmas. Just as he says in verse 29, we might find peace and not chaos this Christmas. That we would find hope and not strife. 

I invite you to a renewed faithfulness during this advent season, that as we gear our hearts in hopeful anticipation for the coming of our King that we would celebrate the wonderful first coming of our Lord, but much more that we would long for the second coming. Where he once came as a baby he will return in glory. Where he once came humbly, he will next come in glory. 

And it is because of that sweet truth that we will know a day where we no longer wait in anticipation, but our faith will be before our very eyes and we will be before the throne of the lamb proclaiming, holy, holy, holy is the lord God Almighty. 

Is your heart ready? Let us look beyond the fanfare and see the beauty of Christmas. That the lamb has come, and his blood has been spilled for you and fore me so that just as Simeon, we might see the salvation of the Lord.