A New Year of Devotion

"Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 'Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen you salvation that you have prepared in the presence of  all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.'" Luke 2:25-32

"And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem." Luke 2:36-38

Simeon and Anna were old people, who had devoted themselves to God a long time ago. One day, the Holy Spirit leads them to the temple, and Jesus, God's salvation, is there. They saw God's Son with their own eyes. They saw His promise.

They didn't get to see the Savior simply because they happened to be alive. God blessed their devotion. God blessed their faithfulness. God blessed their lives because they lived their lives for Him.

As we kick off the new year, I feel the urging to stress that we devote ourselves to God. That we live our lives for Him, and with Him. That our love for God would be increased. Let this be a new year of devotion for you. So that you can see all of God's incredible works with your own eyes.

"And he said to them, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all you soul and with all your mind.'" Matthew 22:37

Have a Happy New Year. May He bless you, and may we move closer to God's heart then we ever dreamed.

---Joy