Well it's the Christmas season and this is the first year I can ever remember not being absolutely overwhelmed by the holidays. We have recently started attending a new church and so the new start meant we weren't committed to 100 different things throughout the holidays. God in His sovereignty new that my little guy would be having surgery even before I did and then all my commitments would have gone out the window anyway.
I am trying to be a little deeper this Christmas, not just taking the season for the usual. Jesus is the Reason, Wise Men Still Seek Him, and Mary Did You Know, have lost their effect on me. I began to study the story in Luke. I have read it and re-read it, and something new has come so alive to me.
It is the small mention of a very significant person towards the end of the story. Her name is Anna and she was a prophetess. She was widowed and spent the rest of her life dedicated to worship, prayer and fasting in temple. She was the first woman to look at the baby, still in infancy and see Him for what He really was, her long awaited Redeemer.
The Shepherds were sent by the angels, the Magi followed a star, but in an instant, just one glance, Anna knew the Messiah. Even as a babe, she knew He was her Savior. She went throughout the temple rejoicing and telling of His significance. That small story leaves me asking myself so many questions.
How many people were at the temple that day? How many passed Joseph and Mary, congratulated them on their new arrival and never knew He was the Christ? How many times do I go to the house of God (the temple) out of ritual or routine and pass right by the Savior? How many lives are committed to prayer the way that Anna was? The veil was not yet torn, she could not experience the very real presence of God the way that I can, yet she worshipped continually because of who He was, the God of Moses, the God of Abraham. She worshipped with her whole life and in return she saw the Son of God years before the rest of the world even cared that He existed.
This Christmas season I am focusing less on the typical holiday banter and going deeper. I want to know that I will recognize Him when I see Him. I want to be that close to Him. I want to know His voice. I don't want to miss Him this Christmas.
