Good morning, DearHeart.

It is December. I’m caught between ‘where did the year go’ and ‘2021 can’t get here soon enough’ and ‘let’s give 2020 the boot’.

In my head I hear Dale’s voice of reason “be careful what you ask for, Ang. It can always be worse.”

So, in the waiting for the new year, we get to experience anticipation. Do you remember Simeon?

He’s an interesting person in the story of Christmas. We don’t know much about him. Maybe he was a priest although this is not clearly to us. We are told, however, two things about him:

1. He was righteous and devout and eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel” (Luke 2:25b, NLT), and

2. That day the Spirit led him to the Temple” (Luke 2:27a, NLT).

That day. It was the day Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the Law required all parents to do.

And, Simeon just happened to be present. It was an ordinary day much like all of our days. People going about their business, and putting out fires, and keeping an eye on the sheep, and drawing water to wash the dishes later. A day like any other.

There were probably many others who had also come to the Temple. But, only Simeon saw Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus fully and clearly.

Because Simeon, had been

waiting,

looking,

and anticipating the Messiah’s coming … he was the one who recognized the Messiah.

He saw not the babe in Mary’s arms,

but the Savior,

the salvation prepared for all people,

the Light of the World.

In his devotional, ‘Because of Bethlehem’, Max Lucado reminds us of the day the young couple came knocking at the door of the inn. Nothing signaled to the innkeeper that this couple was different, or that the world was about to change for all time.

He turned them away saying there was no room at the inn and missed the opportunity.

“Many still do.

They miss the chance to open the door.

They let the birth of Jesus pass them by.

The miracle of Bethlehem still happens …

He sings to us through Christmas carols.

He calls to us through Christmas sermons.

He reaches out through the Christmas story.”

Here we are – December; now Advent begins and we begin to read about it all month. Jesus pursues us through the simplicity and majesty of the Christmas story.

Simeon was

E. X. P. E. C. T. I. N. G

the Messiah – Jesus – to burst onto the scene in his lifetime. He would not give up hope because he knew the promise.

Oh, DearHeart, do not give up hope.

Jesus comes knocking at our hearts in the midst of the

pandemic,

the fear,

the lights,

the shopping,

the wrapping,

the baking,

and the stress.

“Look! I stand at the door and knock, if you hear My voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” (Revelation 3:20, NLT)

Both actions are required.

We must hear and open our hearts.

And Jesus will come.

Wake up.

Anticipate.

Look for the Savior of the World.

Every minute.

You will find Him when you look for Him.

Go.