Season of Preparation Day Nineteen: God’s Timing

And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2:34-35

The birth of Christ was more than just a one-night display of God’s glory. There are others in the Christmas story that slip from our minds as we ooh and ahh over the Christ child.

One such person was Simeon. He lived in Jerusalem just a few miles from Bethlehem, yet he apparently missed the heavenly hosts singing hallelujah that night. It seems the one who was perhaps the most expectant—God had promised he wouldn’t see death before he’d seen the Lord’s Christ—missed the exciting event. News traveled slow in the ancient world, so it’s likely he hadn’t heard the good news before the Holy Spirit summoned him to the temple eight days later.

Scripture tells us he was a just and devout man, leading me to think he was faithful in his work and service. I believe he was a man filled with the peace that came from trusting God’s timing.

Oh, that I could say the same about myself!

If Simeon had of heard the news about the birth of the Messiah, I doubt he would have gone on a shopping spree or slathered his home in decorations. I think he would have fasted (but that’s just my opinion, not founded on biblical evidence).

And while I’m curious about God’s timing with Simeon’s moment with Jesus, I’m also convicted by the words Simeon spoke.

Simeon’s last recorded words were “that the thoughts of many hearts may be reveal.”

What a painful concept to be pondered during this holiday season? When my thoughts should be most captivated by the birth of my Savior, I’ve given them free reign to wander through the earthly temptations of this manmade celebration instead of seating them firmly at the feet of Jesus. Decorations, baking, gifts, parties—a revealing of my thoughts would show how attached to this world I am. And how not like Simeon I am when it comes to being devout.

If I’m not careful, I become so busy with the plans to celebrate the birth of Christ that I forget to sit at his feet. Or I become so focused and intent on pleasing others with gifts, specially baked goodies, and decorations that make my house look like Chip and Joanna Gaines paid a visit with a sleigh full of elves, that I forget I’m to be the pleasing aroma of Christ to others.

And most shameful of all is when I exhaust myself with busyness to the point I’m just ready to get the day over with and move on.

Let that sink in . . . I could be so exhausted from planning and preparing for Christmas that I miss Christ.

 

Where was Simeon the night Jesus was born? What was he doing? We aren’t told, but I think it’s safe to say he wasn’t distracted by the insignificant. He was a pious man who reverenced God—just and devout. I think he’d had a full day of serving God and was either in prayer or in bed, resting in the peace of knowing he’d given his devotion to the Lord.

Whatever he was doing, it was God’s timing that kept Simeon from seeing the Messiah until eight days later. But it was also God’s gift of time that gave Simeon eight more days to spend devoted to God.

God didn’t send his Son to make us stressed and anxious and tired over a day on the calendar. He doesn’t require us to celebrate the birth of his Son with a season of overplanning, overspending, overeating, and overcommitting. In fact, I think it probably makes him sad.

We’ve become so focused on throwing a party that we don’t see the guest of honor.

This Christmas I don’t want to be led by Amazon, Hallmark, or Pinterest—all shouting “if you want to have a Merry Christmas then you have to buy this gift, decorate your home and the whole town while you’re at it live on like this, and bake this delicious confection all in the pursuit of a perfect Christmas. And somebody better be buying you a new car.”

This Christmas I want to be like Simeon, living a life defined by the qualities of being just and devout, not squandering God’s gift of timing but trusting in its perfection.  And like Simeon, I want to be led by the Holy Spirit to see Jesus.