Thursday, December 23, 2010
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Ezekiel 25-27 and 1 Peter 2
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Ezekiel 25-27 and 1 Peter 2
SCRIPTURE READING
Luke 2:36-38 (NIV); There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
Like many in the Christmas story, this woman had proven herself faithful to the Lord, and considering her age and circumstances, her testimony is one of the most remarkable. Suffering the death of her husband after only seven years of marriage, she emerged with praise on her lips – a theme amongst the heroes of the Christmas story.
It was to this woman, who devoted her life entirely to the Lord, fasting and praying in the temple, that God permitted to behold the Christ. God reveals His plans and purposes to those who commit themselves completely to Him.
Anna was called to the temple, but this full-fledged devotion will look different depending on your calling. If you are pouring your energy into getting a career in paid church ministry when God is calling you to be a marketplace leader, you are not fully committed to His will! And the same is true for the opposite! If God has called you to something specific and you have refused the call for any reason, you are withholding some of yourself from Him. Anna’s call was total commitment to worship in the temple. We are all called to a life of worship, though what was Anna’s temple may just be your cubicle.
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Spend some time listening to God. What is He asking of you right now in your life? Think about school, work and family. What is the calling on your life at this point in time? How do you feel about it?
2. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of half-hearted commitment to God and His calling on your life. Confess these things and ask the Lord to give you a passion for total commitment to His calling.
3. Meditate on the verses in Luke and the life of Anna the prophetess. Ask the Spirit to speak specifically to you through her life. Journal the things He reveals to you.
