It is officially December. Every year, December first always brings an air of excitement, of anticipation, and of expectation. But this year, the start of December has special significance for me. December first still heralds the coming of Christmas caroling with friends, and snuggling up with my family around a crackling fire, and making hot cocoa and apple cider and gingerbread houses, and running around the entire town to find the perfect gift for the perfect person.
But this year, it means so much more to me. Because this year, I've been on the other side of the world since July. And all of the little things that I do with my family - wrapping presents with my brothers and sister, scheming with my parents to hide my siblings' stocking stuffers, putting out a plate of milk and cookies for Santa and carrots for Rudolph, helping my dad eat said cookies and carrots after the children are in bed, writing a note "from Santa" and putting it under the stockings, bounding out of bed at the crack of dawn on December 25 to greet the day with the biblical Christmas story, breakfast, and then presents - all of those things are going to be all the more precious to me because they almost didn't happen this year. Flights from Korea to America are expensive, and the decision to come home was a closely fought battle.
But in the end, I AM coming home, and I'm so unbelievably excited. But I was convicted of something today as I sat there thinking of my trip home. Do I look on Christ's coming with as much anticipation as I look upon my return to America? Does the thought of Jesus coming to my life fill me with as much joy as the thought of me coming home for a few weeks? Do I live my life in anticipation of His coming? Or have I become indifferent, calloused, numb to the joy that He brings to the world?
22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 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, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
But this year, it means so much more to me. Because this year, I've been on the other side of the world since July. And all of the little things that I do with my family - wrapping presents with my brothers and sister, scheming with my parents to hide my siblings' stocking stuffers, putting out a plate of milk and cookies for Santa and carrots for Rudolph, helping my dad eat said cookies and carrots after the children are in bed, writing a note "from Santa" and putting it under the stockings, bounding out of bed at the crack of dawn on December 25 to greet the day with the biblical Christmas story, breakfast, and then presents - all of those things are going to be all the more precious to me because they almost didn't happen this year. Flights from Korea to America are expensive, and the decision to come home was a closely fought battle.
But in the end, I AM coming home, and I'm so unbelievably excited. But I was convicted of something today as I sat there thinking of my trip home. Do I look on Christ's coming with as much anticipation as I look upon my return to America? Does the thought of Jesus coming to my life fill me with as much joy as the thought of me coming home for a few weeks? Do I live my life in anticipation of His coming? Or have I become indifferent, calloused, numb to the joy that He brings to the world?
Luke 2:22-40
22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 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, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
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