Leading The Way - Week of December 4
December 4, 2023
Peace Born of a Promise
By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.
Read Luke 2:25-35.
The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that the long-awaited Messiah would come during his lifetime. In fact, the Spirit told Simeon that before he died, he would see the Savior with his very own eyes. And so, Simeon lived his life in the peace of that promise.
Simeon’s expectations were not fixed on the movers and the shakers of his time. Instead, his expectations rested on the promises of God.
Luke’s Gospel tells us just three things about Simeon, the three things God cherished about the man. Simeon was righteous; he was devout; and he was waiting for the consolation of Israel. We know that to be righteous and devout means a person walks in step with God’s commands. But what does it mean that Simeon was “waiting for the consolation of Israel” (Luke 2:25)? It means he was on duty, standing guard, waiting for God to fulfill the promises He had made from Genesis to Malachi.
As Simeon held the baby Jesus in his arms that day in the temple, he could look back on Israel’s history—all the way back to God’s promise to Adam and Eve in the garden (see Genesis 3:15)—and say, “Like my ancestors, I have set my expectations firmly and squarely on the promises of God, and now my eyes have seen the fulfillment of God’s promises. I have seen the fulfillment of the hopes and dreams of all previous generations.”
Simeon had stood guard and seen the Savior. He could now say, “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation” (v. 29-30). He could now die as he lived—in peace.
We live on the other side of Christmas, so we can look to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and know that our account has been settled. Our sins have been paid for. There is no need to strive or prove ourselves somehow worthy of eternal life. Jesus has already done everything required. He has met every expectation for righteousness on our behalf and has secured our every hope and expectation about the future, for He has gone to prepare a place for us. And so we have a powerful assurance that establishes and sustains our supernatural peace today and every day into eternity.
Prayer: Father, thank You for the gift of Your Son, the consolation of Israel. You have grafted me in and adopted me as Your child. I am made new and rejoice in my eternal citizenship that is both now and yet to come. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him” (Luke 2:25).
Learn more in Dr. Michael Youssef’s sermon Real and Unreal Expectations: LISTEN NOW
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