Some things in life are worth waiting for!
Welcome to “Word from The Center” MONDAY, a devotional word from the Center of our faith, Jesus Christ, with reflections on His Word. I’m Gregory Seltz. Today’s verses are Luke 2:25-26, where the Bible says,
Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
People seem to be more impatient than ever today. We don’t like to wait for much of anything. Life today is often like this: “Let’s hit the drive thru, roll down the window, pick up the order of our choosing, and get on to the next thing.” The pandemic has increased our disconnectedness from people and surely challenged our patience anew. In a world of UBER EATS and SAME DAY DELIVERY, can there be any good in waiting? Or, can there be anything good worth waiting for?
Yes, even amidst the impatience of our age, there are some things worth the wait. We can endure waiting in traffic for the joy of getting home to our loved-ones. We’ll wait in line for that must-have gift for our children each Christmas season. We’ll endure the wait when it’s for that new job offer, a good test result from a biopsy, or that special someone’s call because we are so excited just to hear their voice.
There are still things worth waiting for. And the more valuable that thing or person is, the more power we have to wait with joy, hope, and eager expectation. That’s what is going on in our Bible reading today. Simeon was a man who had learned the power of waiting with hope. Why? Because of the one for whom he waited. He was not waiting for a special trinket or even a special relationship, he was waiting for the Messiah, the one who would come to fulfill the promises of God. He awaited “the consolation of Israel” who is the Savior for all people.
Now it’s important to realize that this “waiting period” for Simeon wasn’t just a few years, or even a few generations either. Centuries earlier, the captivity of the Israelites in Assyria and Babylon, and the destruction of Jerusalem had left many believers in Israel not only waiting, but often times waiting with discouragement. In the midst of these trying circumstances, Simeon was one who continued to wait faithfully because he knew that the God of Israel was the God who always fulfills His promises. You can hear his joy in his wonderful words that we often sing in church,
“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel” (Luke 2:29-32).
Like the pregnant mother who forgets the “pain of waiting” when the child is born, like the proud father who endures the tough work of disciplining and leading his children because of the joy of seeing them grow and mature into fine adults, Simeon’s Christmas joy teaches us that there is ONE PERSON who is always worth the wait. May Simeon’s expecting, “confident of receiving” spirit be yours this coming New Year as you learn the power of faith which trusts in Christ and His Word in all circumstances.
PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, give us a faith that eagerly waits for You to answer prayer, that leans on Your Word to guide us in our lives when we might feel otherwise, and that eagerly trusts in Your promises to sustain us through all troubles. You are not only the consolation of Israel, You are our consolation and hope in all things. AMEN.
