Word@Work Luke32 - Luke 2:36-38
Published: Thu, 02/04/10
Word@Work from BeaconLight
FAITHFUL TO THE END
Luke 2:36-38 There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying. 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. (NIV)
Anna was an old woman. Married for only seven years, what would her life become after her husband's death? Luke tells us that she did not marry again or carry on a trade: she was on a unique mission. She committed herself to a lifestyle of worship, fasting and prayer. But this was not quiet minded pietism; it was all in preparation for the one big moment of her life. But there is no suggestion that she knew when that moment would come, but when it came she knew it was time to step forward to meet Jesus.
We are not told the details of how God sustained her through decades of lonely vigil; or how her mission started. But we do know that at 84 she was well past the normal expected lifespan for those times, but she was ready to do her job. In Jewish law, two witnesses were required to establish truth. On that day, first Simeon and then Anna appeared as God's witnesses to prophesy over the infant as He was presented to the Lord. The text indicates that they were not in league with each other, but that God's Spirit moved them both to be in the right place at the right time with their hearts open to God and their eyes alert for what He was going to show them; and as witnesses, to testify to who this child was.
Anna has been an encouragement to many believers. She kept faithful to the Lord right to the end, and past the point at which most would have given up. She did not so much count the years in the past, as the minutes to come. Anna was always looking for what the Lord would show her, rather than reminiscing over her own past glories: she was eager to see the glory of the Lord. That day she was privileged to announce the Redeemer of the world to all who trusted God to keep His promise; it was not her day of glory but the opportunity to proclaim the glory of Jesus the Christ.
That kind of persistence comes from a lifetime of worship saturated in prayer and sustained by periods of fasting. It was the lifestyle for Jesus, and became the pattern for the apostles. The business of heaven is too big to be cluttered by the trivial diversions of the world. This does not mean that every believer should live in solitary contemplation, but rather that the focus of every day must be the hope of the appearance of Christ. Whatever our responsibilities, we either seek our own advancement and glory, or the advancement of Christ's kingdom and His glory. It is not a matter of religious activity, but a wholehearted commitment to put Jesus first in everything. It starts again today. So pray where you are and ask the Lord to give you that sort of heart, and then live and work towards meeting Jesus when He returns.
Prayer: Dear Lord God. Please forgive me so many wasted years I have devoted to my advancement; when You have called me to bring glory to Jesus. Whatever my age and responsibilities, please help me to have a new desire to be Your servant and learn to worship You with a whole heart; so that I can live a life which points people to Jesus. In His Name I pray. Amen.
Subscribe | View Archive | Donate | W@W Facebook Group
You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
Anna was an old woman. Married for only seven years, what would her life become after her husband's death? Luke tells us that she did not marry again or carry on a trade: she was on a unique mission. She committed herself to a lifestyle of worship, fasting and prayer. But this was not quiet minded pietism; it was all in preparation for the one big moment of her life. But there is no suggestion that she knew when that moment would come, but when it came she knew it was time to step forward to meet Jesus.
We are not told the details of how God sustained her through decades of lonely vigil; or how her mission started. But we do know that at 84 she was well past the normal expected lifespan for those times, but she was ready to do her job. In Jewish law, two witnesses were required to establish truth. On that day, first Simeon and then Anna appeared as God's witnesses to prophesy over the infant as He was presented to the Lord. The text indicates that they were not in league with each other, but that God's Spirit moved them both to be in the right place at the right time with their hearts open to God and their eyes alert for what He was going to show them; and as witnesses, to testify to who this child was.
Anna has been an encouragement to many believers. She kept faithful to the Lord right to the end, and past the point at which most would have given up. She did not so much count the years in the past, as the minutes to come. Anna was always looking for what the Lord would show her, rather than reminiscing over her own past glories: she was eager to see the glory of the Lord. That day she was privileged to announce the Redeemer of the world to all who trusted God to keep His promise; it was not her day of glory but the opportunity to proclaim the glory of Jesus the Christ.
That kind of persistence comes from a lifetime of worship saturated in prayer and sustained by periods of fasting. It was the lifestyle for Jesus, and became the pattern for the apostles. The business of heaven is too big to be cluttered by the trivial diversions of the world. This does not mean that every believer should live in solitary contemplation, but rather that the focus of every day must be the hope of the appearance of Christ. Whatever our responsibilities, we either seek our own advancement and glory, or the advancement of Christ's kingdom and His glory. It is not a matter of religious activity, but a wholehearted commitment to put Jesus first in everything. It starts again today. So pray where you are and ask the Lord to give you that sort of heart, and then live and work towards meeting Jesus when He returns.
Prayer: Dear Lord God. Please forgive me so many wasted years I have devoted to my advancement; when You have called me to bring glory to Jesus. Whatever my age and responsibilities, please help me to have a new desire to be Your servant and learn to worship You with a whole heart; so that I can live a life which points people to Jesus. In His Name I pray. Amen.
Your next Word@Work will be sent on
W@WLuke32 | Word@Work © Dr Paul Adams 2010 | Provided by BeaconLight | Contact us at wordatwork@beaconlight.co.uk
Subscribe | View Archive | Donate | W@W Facebook Group