History:
- 1682: William Penn founds Philadelphia
- 1781: 18 people, including 3 African Americans, found the first Baptist church in Kentucky at Elizabethtown
- 1873: Susan B Anthony fined $100 for voting for president
- 1928: Amelia Earhart is the first woman to fly across the Atlantic
- 1940: Churchill gives his “This was their finest hour” speech
- 1960: Arnold Palmer overcomes 7 shot deficit in the final round to win the US Open
- 1968: Supreme Court bans racial discrimination in housing
- 1983: Sally Ride becomes the first US woman in space
- 2020: Global Covid cases pass 100,000
- Born: EG Marshall, Red Adair [fought oil fires in Kuwait], Richard Boone. George Mikan [basketball HOF, his early dominance near the basket resulted in the Mikan Rule or what we know as the 3 second rule], Lou Brock, Paul McCartney, Roger Ebert, Blake Shelton,
- Died: Jeanne Mance [founded 1st hospital in North America], Roald Amundsen [South Pole], Jack Buck [announcer]
Thought:
Reading about Simeon in Luke 2:22-35 tis morning. You recall Simeon.
- Righteous and devout. Simeon was devoted to God and lived a life of devotion. We don’t know about his family, his education, his occupation, but we know he loved God and was devoted to following Him. That is encouraging to me—it does not matter where I came from, who my parents were. It doesn’t matter how smart or educated I am. My job and my stuff don’t really matter—God is looking for righteousness and devotion. This forces me to stop comparing myself to other people and look to the only standard that matters—Jesus.
- Looking for the Messiah. Simeon was devoted to God and he believed all the promises of God in the Old Testament. He believed that God would send a Messiah, a Savior for His people. Amd based upon what he says to Mary and Joesph about Jesus, he understood the suffering servant of Isaiah. Today, we are looking for the Messiah. We trust the promises of Jesus that He will return and gather us to Himself. While we wait, we act like Simeon—devoted.
- Filled with the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit we cannot see Jesus. Simeon was covered by the Holy Spirit [the Holy Spirit was upon him]. He was filled with the spirit. When we are seeking the revelation of God, we must have the Spirit of God to guide, direct, teach, help us recall. My problem is the being filled part. Being filled with the Spirit requires that I empty myself of all that is me so that the Spirit can fill every part, every thought, every emotion.
- Promised that he would not die until he saw the Messiah. What a promise. Simeon must have been praying for the coming of the Messiah for years. God heard his prayers and promised that he would see the promised Messiah. The good news for those in Christ—we shall behold Him, then face to face. I don’t know whether that will be when this body fails or when He comes in His glory, but just like Simeon, we shall see Lord.
- Recognizes Jesus. Filled with the Spirit, Simeon recognizes Jesus. I am convinced that we cannot really see the hand of God and the work of God and understand the Word of God without the Holy Spirit. In the Spirit we recognize the truth, we discern the way, we see the path. As Christians, we see God move, answer prayers, comfort, transform—things the world never reall sees or comprehends.
- Could now die in peace. And so can we. If we have encountered the living Christ, if we have accepted His gift of life, then we can die in peace. What a blessing—so we sing:
- No guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the power of Christ in me
- From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny.
- No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand.
- Till He returns or calls me home here in the power of Christ I’ll stand
This morning.—seek righteousness, commit yourself to following Him, yield to the Holy Spirit, live in victory, be prepared to live in His power and die in His peace.
Blessings
Larry
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