Simeon took him [Jesus] in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” Luke 2:28-32 (NIV)
Lord Jesus, what a breath-taking, knee-buckling holy paradox. Eight days after your birth, Simeon took you into his arms. Yet it was by your arms that all things have been made and are sustained—“things above the earth, on the earth, and below the earth.” Everything has been made by you and for you (Col. 1:16; John 1:3), including Simeon and us.
We praise you for the humility of your incarnation, the magnificence of your salvation, and our accessibility into your presence. From eternity you came close and for eternity you remain even closer, for our Father has graciously hidden our lives in yours.
Lord Jesus, it’s only because you embraced us in the gospel that we have a good measure of the same peace Simeon experienced; for you are God’s promised salvation for Israel, for Gentiles, and for us. In you we’ve found the consolation that cannot be found anywhere else. You are our righteousness and redemption, our holiness and hope, our sanity and surety, and a whole lot more. The saints in heaven are more joyful than us, but they’re not more loved or more secure than we are.
As we stare the beginning of a New Year in the face, we want the peace of your grace to help us live by the rhythms of your peace. Slow… us… down, Jesus. Like Simeon, we want to live thankfully and expectantly. Continue to show us the difference between the things that matter, and the things that don’t matter “diddly squat.” If we’re going to be in a hurry about one thing in the upcoming year, may it be to linger longer in your presence. Everything else will take care of itself. So very Amen we pray, in your glorious and grace-full name.
