December 2003

"Simeon took him [Jesus} into his arms and blessed God, saying: 'God, you can now release your servant, release me in peace as you promised. With my own eyes I've seen your salvation; it's now out in the open for everyone to see: A God-revealing light to the non-Jewish nations, and of glory for your people Israel." (Lu. 2: 28-32, Msg)

He was old. Quite old.

Yet, he lived in what the Bible calls, "prayerful expectancy." Even though the promise of God given centuries earlier had not been fleshed out ... yet.

He was old, but his heart was young - filled with hope, looking forward, believing that God would keep his word.

As then, still now: the greatest questions are not chronological or physiological -

How old are you?
How healthy is your body?
How long have you been waiting?

(These questions matter, the answers affect us. But there's more!)

The deeper, most compelling questions of life penetrate to our heart of hearts:

Who is our hope?
What do I really and truly, most of all, look forward to?
Am I, by His Spirit, being renewed in passion for his purpose, especially when results are "late" by my timetable?

... so that our hearts sing
... and our longings long
... our minds stir
... for Him and for His promised, though "delayed" results.

Lord, give us (give me) a heart that is made young and strong by "prayerful expectancy."

Help us to sing with Godly enthusiasm again, to mean it when we say, "Come, thou long-expected Jesus."

Take away any irritable spirit, any weariness of will, all traces of indifferent religiosity.

Lord, however many years it has been since we began "looking forward," make us wonder-filled and refreshingly confident in you, our only Messiah and God.

In the spirit of Simeon, Lord God, we confess continuing, energized trust in you ... and praise to your mighty name !