Luke 2:36-38
“Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; 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. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”
I have come to realize that faithfulness does not depend upon signs in the sky or voices in the night. We have the Word of God and that should be enough to draw us to faithful expectation.
Anna was a fantastic pattern of what faithful service should look like. Yes, she was eagerly waiting for the promised Messiah, but look what she did in the meantime: She “did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.”
She believed the prophecies of a coming Messiah and devoted her life to serve until He was revealed. When Joseph and Mary had presented the infant Jesus at the Temple to fulfill the customs of the Law, Anna entered where they were and immediately knew that this was the One she had faithfully waited for. Her faithfulness had been rewarded. She saw HIM!
How would you measure your faithful expectation of the soon return of our Lord?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil