The Consolation of Israel..

And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just 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. So he came by 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  Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel." And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against  (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." --Luke 2:25-35



To My Daughters,

I loved reading these verses last night.  So much in the news, today, and well...really every day, that is not good.  We live in a fallen world, among fallen human beings where sin abounds.  BUT where sin abounds, grace abounds much more.  AMEN!  What a wonderful example Simeon is always looking for the Consolation of Israel.

Simeon was just and devoted...a man upon whom the Holy Spirit rested.  A man who listened to the voice of His God and believed that he would not die until he saw His Lord's Messiah.  How excited and watchful he must have been after John the Baptist came on the scene!  Thinking more on this, Simeon own personal expectation for the Messiah was probably not one of a tiny, helpless baby.  Nevertheless, he believed God's Spirit when He spoke to his heart and was able to see beyond what his own desires and expectations were, embrace God's plan and speak words to Joseph and Mary!  WOW!

Simeon's prophetic words in verse 35 really spoke to my heart as a mom and as a believer.  Truly a sword did pierce this woman's heart (see Luke 2:49, Matthew 12:48, John 19:26) as well as revealing the hypocritical hearts of  many in Israel. Jesus is the very Word of God...The following are His words to us, while He was here on earth.

"Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.  But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to 'SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW';  and 'A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THOSE OF HIS OWN HOUSEHOLD.' He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. "He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.



Hebrews 4 says this:

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.


Simeon prophesied of Jesus' paradoxical effect.  With Jesus there is no neutral ground!  If you do not accept Him, then you totally reject Him.  The Light had come into the world but many loved darkness rather than light.  The same is true today.  We, like Mary, are sorrowful at times...yet always rejoicing.  We are poor and yet rich.  We have nothing and yet possess all things.  In fact, we are only restricted by our own darkness...our own selfish affections.  More of Jesus sets us free from ourselves and allows us to live as He created us to live...for Him.

As believers, we all will face the sword of rejection and persecution, but we do not lose heart even though our outward man may be perishing our inward man is being renewed daily and we are filled with JOY unspeakable.   Follow Simeon's example and look to your Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Our expectation is from Him alone and as a friend reminded me today...People get ready, Jesus is coming!!!

Over the past few days the Lord keeps bringing me back to 2nd Corinthians 4...I end with the entire chapter.


Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you. And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I BELIEVED AND THEREFORE I SPOKE," we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.  For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.  Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Love
Mom