Joy and The Price of Peace (No Sunday Service Because of Snow and Ice) 

Happy Sunday,

I hope and pray you are all doing well, keeping safe and warm!  I wanted to share the passage that I was going to use today for our Advent Devotional on the Joy we discover when we know the “Prince of Peace”.

Take a close look at Simeon’s response to meeting the baby Jesus in this passage:

Luke 2:21-35 (NLT) 
    Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived.
    [22] Then it was time for the purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. [23] The law of the Lord says, "If a woman's first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the Lord." [24] So they offered a sacrifice according to what was required in the law of the Lord—"either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."
 
    [25] Now there was a man named Simeon who lived in Jerusalem. He was a righteous man and very devout. He was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he eagerly expected the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. [26] The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Messiah. [27] That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, [28] Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,
 
        [29] "Lord, now I can die in peace!
            As you promised me,
        [30] I have seen the Savior
            [31] you have given to all people.
        [32] He is a light to reveal God to the nations,
            and he is the glory of your people Israel!"
 
    [33] Joseph and Mary were amazed at what was being said about Jesus. [34] Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, "This child will be rejected by many in Israel, and it will be their undoing. But he will be the greatest joy to many others. [35] Thus, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul."
 

This baby, who was the promised Messiah, gave Simeon joy.  So much joy that when he came face to face with Jesus, Simeon proclaimed, “Now I can die in peace!”.  Simeon gives us a wonderful example of being content in our relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

For greater insight, some questions you can ask yourself about this passage are:

1. Why was this such a meaningful occasion for Simeon?
2. What was Simeon predicting about the Baby Jesus?
3. What is significant about Simeon?
4. Are there characteristics in Simeon’s life that I can apply to my life?

I am praying each of you have a blessed Sunday.  And, I look forward to seeing my church family on Tuesday night for our Christmas Eve Eve Candlelight service…

Merry Christmas,
Pastor Greg