ESOCS Devotional 30 January 2021
TEXT: LUKE 2:36-40
MEMORY VERSE: “And this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.” Luke 2:37 NKJV
Prophetess Anna, one of the earliest mothers of our Christian Faith, saw the Redeemer, and she gave thanks to God. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, she revealed to the people present many things about the child Jesus. She lived many years in the temple serving God through fasting and prayers. It is important to explain here that as a widow, she must have had terrible experiences that made her to move from her tribe, Asher to live in the temple at Jerusalem. Widows were often neglected and maltreated in Israel despite the commandment of the Law: “Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan …” (Ex. 22:22-24 NIV).
Anna was not just a widow at 84 years. She refused to remarry in order to devout her life to serving and worshiping God faithfully. She loved God with all her heart. One insight we learn from her is the decision not to remarry, probably to dedicate the rest of her life to serving God. Moving away from her tribe, Asher to the house of God, the Jerusalem temple, is significant of moving away from the world to the sanctity and sacredness of the temple where she could have the enabling environment for spiritual growth, devotion, and alignment with God, undisturbed. Her intention was to avoid the temptations of the world and the flesh that could become distractions to her sincere desire to worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:23- 24). We could make such decisions too; to abandon the world and focus on our spiritual journey and growth until we become mature in the ways of God to the extent that we reach the full stature of Christ, which is God’s will for us (Eph. 4:13).
People who make such decisions succeed in remaining faithful to God and His purpose, for they dwell constantly in God’s presence, just like Anna. The Bible counsels us to endeavour to worship and serve God without allowing distractions from the world, anyone, or anything (1 Cor. 7:35).
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
Constant devotion to God and His service is one thing in which we should imitate her. She was rewarded with seeing the Messiah that she longed to see for many years. When we devote ourselves to God for a long time, there is always a reward for it. Devotion to God is a good spiritual transaction; and we should advise ourselves to embark on such business without delay; for it is profitable indeed. Joshua the son of Nun and servant of Moses was constantly in the tabernacle. The Bible says, “So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle” (Ex. 33:11-12 NKJV). At the end of the life of Moses, Joshua was rewarded with the leadership of Israel. Caleb who was always in the camp with the others was not given the leadership position. The hidden truth is that people who abide in the presence of God often have the privilege of receiving some impartations that make them stand out among others. Joshua must have received it in the tabernacle. Anna, like Simeon must have had such impartations too, for many years. If we do what they did, we would receive same too, and excel in the things of God and our private lives as well.
In all. Let us always remember that “… our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:21). Let us endeavour to dwell in God’s presence now that we are alive, for that is only how we would qualify to dwell in His presence in heaven when we depart this sinful world.
CHALLENGES
How much of your time and attention do you give to God and His word? Are they adequate?
PRAYER POINT
O God, help me to discipline my heart to be devoted to you all through my life. I seek no other.
FURTHER READING: Isaiah 40:25–31; 50:4-11; Philip 3:17-4:7
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ESOCS Devotional 30 January 2021
