OUR DAILY BREAD : THE FORWARD LOOK

[cimi]

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 24


THE FORWARD LOOK

READ:
Luke 2:25
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Simeon...was
righteous and
devout...and
the Holy Spirit
was on him.
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When the great dutch painter Rembrandt died unexpectedly at age 63, an unfinished painting was found on his easel. It focuses on Simeon’s emotion in holding the baby Jesus when He was brought to the temple in Jerusalem, 40 days after His birth. Yet the background and normal detail remain unfinished. Some art experts believe that Rembrandt knew the end of his life was near and--like Simeon--was ready to “be dismissed” (LUKE 2:29).

The Holy Spirit was upon Simeon (v.25, so it was no coincidence that he was in the temple when Mary and Joseph presented their firstborn son to God. Simeon, who had been looking for the promised Messiah, took the baby in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel” (vv. 29-32).

Simeon was not longing for the glory days of Israel’s history, but was looking ahead for the promised Messiah, who would come to redeem all nations.

Like Simeon, we can have an expectant, forward look in life because we know that one day we will see the Lord.

__David McCasland

**Father, may we, like Simeon, be always looking ahead
for the appearing of Jesus ourLord.
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Even so, come, Lord Jesus! REVELATION 22:20

****************************TODAY’S BIBLE READING __ LUKE 2:21-35***************************
21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the
child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given
him before he was conceived.

22 When the time came for the purification rites required
by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to
present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord,
“Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and
to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the
Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was
righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of
Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed
to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had
seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into
the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus
to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon
took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now
dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your
salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

10 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your
people Israel.”

33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said
about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his
mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising
of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,

35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a
sword will pierce your own soul too.”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
In this passage the Jewishness of Jesus takes
center stage. But the encounter with Simeon at the temple was
marked by an announcement that would make circumcision,
ritual cleansing, and animal sacrifics obsolete (EX. 13:2. 12: LEV. 12:8).
The Messiah has come (LUKE 2:29-32).

__Dennis Moles