series: #
verse: Luke 2:25-38 #
Intro: #
The Christmas season is one of the busiest times of the year. Fesitivites, parties, get togethers, etc. It’s a wonderful time for fellowship and communion, and even to serve. But at the same time, is it really possible to become so busy “Celebrating Christmas”, that we miss the meaning of the holiday? Once Christmas is over and the decorations come down, are we shook by the true christmas message?
Side Tangent: Sometimes people are quick to anger and are frustrated with us more frequently due to external factors. But we take those moments personally and it damages the relationship.
Main Idea: #
Some people are completely unshaken despite whatever circumstance they mind find themselves in. Because they were waiting for Jesus to come
What made Simeon and Anna so unique? #
Both Simeon and Anna continually oriented their lives around God’s promise. Not just on Christmas day, or some temporary burst of devoutness. They consistently and constantly fixate themselves on God. For context, Simeon and Anna were both minorities in Rome. And to make matters even worse, for 400 yearst hey have not seen another prophet that delivered a message from God. “Where is God in this?”, they may have thought that God abandoned them. Additionally, Anna was a widow, which makes matters worse. Neither of these individuals were priests or had any religious affiliation. In Luke 2:37, it says that Anna would worship with fasting and prayer both night and day. And Simeon was devout, and he immediately recognized Jesus and worshipped him.
But how can we realistically approach this in modern day?
- Be in the word
- Pray and conversate to God more frequently
- Purposefully turn away from the World, because it will only lead you away
How were Simeon and Anna Changed? #
Seeing Christ transitioned them from “waiting for Christ”, to pure gratitude after meeting Jesus. Christmas reminds us that Christ has already come which means that we should change how we approach life.
There is a course that they are charted for when they are waiting #
An unshaken life should bring us to share the very same hope with others, especially those who haven’t encountered Christ yet. Anna’s life comprised of small daily devotion. There wasn’t some grandiose action like sacrificing herself or anything in that regard. She simply showed up for God everyday, and shared the good news. Its our mission to share this hope to the people.
Make Jesus the center of your Christmas day. Remind yourself of how he has chaned your life, and continues to move you. When we are changed as we look upon Christ,