Simeon’s Gift
“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word”
God honors prayer. He notices righteousness. He rewards faithfulness. Sometimes it seems like we become so obsessed with avoiding the prosperity gospel that we forget that God is a loving father who wants to give good gifts to His children. For some of us, one of the biggest threats to Thinking Truth is believing we aren’t worthy of God’s gifts.
The gospel of Luke tells us about a righteous and devout man named Simeon. He, like so many others before him, was waiting on the Messiah. God gave him a tremendous gift. Through the Holy Spirit it was revealed to Simeon that he would see Christ before he died. Then finally it happened.
“And he came in 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
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 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 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:27-35)
Simeon did not deserve this tremendous gift, but he was worthy of it. Imagine the joy it gave God to let Simeon know that the long awaited Savior had come? To allow him to be the one to bless Jesus’ earthly parents and announce in the temple that the Christ had come? The same God takes delight in blessing you and me with His perfect gifts. If you’re doubting the goodness of God, humbly ask Him for a gift.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:7–11)
And perhaps the best part is that whatever gift God gives, just like with Simeon, He also gives you the opportunity to share it with others.
Shawn