Text:
Luke 2:22-32
Memory Verse:
“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…” (Luke 2: 27&28).
After the birth of Jesus, when the days of Mary’s purification were completed, she and Joseph entered the temple to present Jesus to God and make the necessary sacrifices, as prescribed by the law. The sacrifices required were a lamb for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering. However, for the poor, who are unable to provide a lamb, either two pigeons or turtle doves were accepted (Leviticus 12:6&8). Jesus’ parents could not afford a lamb. In the flurry of activities for the purification exercise, as it often happens, there might have been people who
despised them for their inability to afford a lamb. These ones may have been so preoccupied with the absence of a sacrificial lamb, that they failed to recognise the incredibly important presence of the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world!
One man, Simeon, recognised and joyfully embraced the Lamb, blessing God for the privilege of beholding the promised Lamb of God. Simeon recognised the Lamb because he was devoted to and waited on God. He had been assured that he would see Christ before his death, and was led into the temple at that time by the Holy Spirit. With all that goes on in church today, do you seek the Lamb? Are you sensitive to recognise His move in the fulfilment of His promise(s) to you or His body?
Or are you rather lost in the flurry of activities and criticisms arising from other competing externalities? Focus on the Lamb!
Prayer Points:
1. Father, please help me to be sensitive to Your Spirit, so that I can recognise the manifestation of the Lamb in every gathering.
2. I will not be distracted by the flurry of activities and other externalities.
