Those Awaiting The King’s Return

Tuesday, April 21

Luke 2:36-38 (NLT)

“Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years.Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer.She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.“

Devotion

To understand the extraordinary scope of events surrounding the entrance of our Messiah, Jesus Christ, into this world, one has to take a moment to look at Anna, the prophetess, who spoke of Him at the time He was presented in the temple as an infant.

Anna, though widowed at a young age, chose to spend the length of her days in the temple. She was a devout woman—a prophetess—dedicated to ministering to the Lord through many fastings and prayers, day and night. The instant she saw Jesus, she gave thanks to the Lord and declared of Him to all who anticipated their redemption in Jerusalem.

Take a moment to think about this: Who could identify this infant as King? Mary and Joseph were not of royal lineage. They were from Nazareth, an unpopular place, and they were poor. Who was Anna but an elderly woman who did not go outside of the temple? And yet, she declared this infant as King.

“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.” (1 Corinthians 1:27)

There was something special about this event. Those involved in identifying Jesus were accustomed to being sensitive to God’s presence because of their lifestyle and dedication. The moment Anna laid eyes on Jesus, she knew who He was. She may have even known ahead of time to go to that location of the temple at that very moment, for Luke 2:38 says, “Coming in that instant, she gave thanks to the Lord.” She began to speak of Him to a specific crowd—to those who had been looking for their Redeemer—comforting them with her words.

That was the announcement of Christ’s first coming. How much more will those who love His appearing see Him when He returns? Hiding this blessed hope in our hearts will stir in us a fear of the Lord to keep ourselves pure and preserved until He comes, cultivating a holy, reverential, covenantal relationship with Jesus as a faithful bride who joyfully awaits her coming Bridegroom.

2 Timothy 4:8 (Amplified Bible) sums it up this way: “In the future there is reserved for me the (victor’s) crown of righteousness (for being right with God and doing right), which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that (great) day—and not to me only, but also to those who have loved and longed for and welcomed His appearing.”

Today's Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

I commit to living my life in anticipation of Your coming, to remain in faithful fellowship with You until You return. My heart is fixed, O God; my heart is fixed. I will sing and give You praise until You come for me. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Apply It Today

“Redeeming the time, for the days are evil,” is an intentional commitment to align our days with His purposes and plans. Remember, it’s the ones in close fellowship with Him who identified who He was just after He was born. They saw Him for who He was. And so will everyone who has the hope of His return in them see Him, for they will purify themselves as He is pure. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).

Resources

• Have you been feeding your spirit the right things? This message, “The Right Diet” challenges us to shift our hunger back to what truly satisfies, God Himself. Take time to watch and let it awaken a deeper desire for His presence and His Word.

• Find your people. Join a Connect Group and grow in a community that is devoted to prayer, grounded in Scripture, and united in eagerly awaiting the Lord’s return.