Christian Reflection and Prayer

"Seeing It With My Own Eyes"

Advent Devotions

Read Luke 2:29-32.
My eyes have seen Your salvation. Luke 2:30

Today is the fourth day of Christmas and my wise men are making
solid progress on their way to the manger scene. But today we are
looking at Simeon, who held little Jesus in his arms at the same
time the wise men were traveling toward the land of Israel.

Mary must have been amazed at the things God revealed to her
about Jesus through friends and total strangers. First, her cousin
Elizabeth told her she was pregnant with God's Son before Mary
had the chance to say a word about it (Luke 1:39-45). Then, Joseph
told her about the angel in his dream who said he should not be
afraid to take her as his wife because the child was God's Son
(Matthew 1:18-25). And, of course, there were the shepherdswho
rushed in that first Christmas night to tell of the angel's message.

And here through another total stranger God reveals to Mary the
scope of her Son's work. Simeon said, "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" (Luke 2:30-32). Mary knew Jesus would reign over the throne
of His father David and save Israel. But now she learned Jesus
would save not only Israel, He would be the Savior for all nations.

Jesus came as a light for those who live in the darkness of sin,
unbelief, and ignorance. He came for those who do not know that
God the Creator is perfect, and He demands perfection of His
creatures. He came for those who do not know God is merciful. He
came for those-Jew and Gentile alike-because He is love. In fact,
He loved this fallen world so much that He gave His one and only
Son to take all mankind's sins upon Himself and win eternal
salvation for all of us by His suffering, death, and resurrection.

For those of us who do know God's Word, Jesus brings glory to
God through the great salvation He has won. And in our lives He
brings glory by clothing us in His own righteousness and leading
us to do good works that glorify God.

Like Simeon, our eyes have seen God's salvation. That is why
Simeon's song has been sung for centuries in the Church after
receiving Holy Communion. When we receive the bread and wine
we are holding Christ's very body and blood, which was nailed to
the cross and poured out for our forgiveness. We have seen it with
our own eyes and felt it with our hands and on our tongues. No less
than Simeon we can say, "My eyes have seen Your salvation."
Having been saved, we glorify God and depart in peace to share
Christ's salvation throughout the world.

THE PRAYER:

 Lord God, I praise You for revealing Your salvation to me-Your Son
Jesus Christ. As He has brought light to my darkened mind, let me
share His name to all those You bring into my life, that they may see
His light and praise You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)