Advent Day 15: A Kept Promise

We all know the joy that comes with obtaining something that we have waited so long for. The Bible contains 39 books in which people were waiting for Jesus. Throughout the Old Testament prophecies were spoken and people looked for the fulfillment of these promises from God for a Savior. In Luke's gospel we see two people in particular who were waiting and diligently anticipating the arrival of the Christ. Anna had been praying and serving at the temple for most of her life. She, like all of Israel, was waiting to see the promises of God fulfilled in the sending of the Savior. Simeon's promise from the Lord was more personal, promising him that he would not die before seeing the Messiah. This anticipation of seeing the promises of God come to fruition completely consumed the lives of these two people. Both had worshipful, thanksgiving filled responses to seeing this chapter of God's plan for salvation unfold.

Luke 2:24-32 & 36-38
"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. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, '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'...And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem."

All throughout scripture God is praised for being a keeper of his word.

Numbers 23:19
"God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?"

Joshua 21:45
"Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass."

Jeremiah 33:14-16
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’"

2 Corinthians 1:20-22
"For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee."

So let our prayers be fierce and sincere. Let us not be afraid to take God at his word and to expectantly watch for what he has promised to us. Keep an eye on the horizon and do not be surprised by what we see there but rather let our responses be acts of worship just like Simeon's and Anna's were.