Prayer-Soldier Newbie
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Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 5:07 pm Post subject: The Child Presented in the Temple |
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The Child Presented in the Temple
Scripture:
Behold I send my angel, and he shall prepare the way before my face. And presently the Lord, whom you seek, and the angel of the testament, whom you desire, shall come to his temple. Behold, he comes, says the Lord of hosts. And who shall be able to think of the day of his coming, and who shall stand to see him, for he is like a refining fire, and like the fuller?s herb: And he shall sit refining and cleansing the silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and shall refine them as gold, and as silver, and they shall offer sacrifices to the Lord in justice. And the sacrifice of Juda and of Jerusalem shall please the Lord, as in the days of old, and in the ancient years. (Malachi 3:1-4)
Therefore because the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner has been partaker of the same: that, through death, he might destroy him who had the empire of death, that is to say, the devil: And might deliver them, who through the fear of death were all their lifetime subject to servitude. For nowhere does he take hold of the angels: but of the seed of Abraham he takes hold. Wherefore, it behooves him in all things to be made like unto his brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest before God, that he might be a propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that wherein he himself has suffered and been tempted he is able to succor them also that are tempted. ( Hebrews 2:14-18 )
And after the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they carried him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord: As it is written in the law of the Lord: Every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord: And to offer a sacrifice, according as it is written in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons: And behold there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon: and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Spirit was in him. And he had received an answer from the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when his parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he also took him into his arms and blessed God and said: Now you do dismiss your servant, O Lord, according to your word in peace: Because my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all peoples: A light to the revelation of the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.
And his father and mother were wondering at those things which were spoken concerning him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall and for the resurrection of many in Israel and for a sign which shall be contradicted. And your own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed. And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser. She was far advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity. And she was a widow until fourscore and four years: who departed not from the temple, by fastings and prayers serving night and day. Now she, at the same hour, coming in, confessed to the Lord: and spoke of him to all that looked for the redemption of Israel. And after they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their city Nazareth. And the child grew and waxed strong, full of wisdom: and the grace of God was in him. (Luke 2:22-40)
Reflection:
Through the generations some have lived to serve Him and some have lived in denial of Him. Never has He left them, though many are not aware of how He is with them. They are blind to Him in their lives, nor do they see the wonder of His creation. Blessed are those who know Him and feel Him in their hearts for they look for what is possible through Him. Blessed are the generations who flock to Him, for He will bring the day where evil shall have no more power and the faithful shall gather to rejoice in His glory.
From the days of the garden, the evil one has sought to tempt the children of His creation and separate them from their creator. The evil one has sought to blind the people, sow divisions among them and bring destruction to their souls. The Lord did not create the children of His creation to abandon them; therefore, He came to walk among them. He came to open the eyes of the blinded. He came to save the people from their choices. He came to fulfill the prophecy of the One who would be sent to purify the people and free them from the one who destroys.
Blessed are those whose eyes are opened and whose hearts are turned from darkness. Blessed are those who receive Him and receive the Holy Spirit to guide their soul. Through Him death has been conquered and eternal life belongs to all who follow His path.
It was prophesied, it came to pass, and it forever shall be that the One would come for the salvation of all. In the days of old, the prophets knew He would come and spoke of His days. In His first moments in the form of a child, the prophets knew Him simply by His presence. In the days since, the prophets speak of what has been, is now and ever shall be; the salvation of all and the blessing of all who open themselves to Him.
Blessed are those who know His presence, though they did not live in the days He was a child who came through woman to experience the world in the flesh and blood as the children of His creation; for we do not need to see Him to know Him and feel how He is within our hearts. He came to walk among the people and to guide them through tribulation. He came to heal and bless them; for some, to even take away their infirmities and afflictions, but for all, to heal and purify the soul which comes to Him. He came to the world to save all within the world, but those within the world must first desire to be saved.
Though the time He was held as child and walked as man has passed, He is still with us, for just as He was presented to Simeon and Anna, He is before us as we walk each day. He is the One who can comfort us in our hour of need and raise us up to release us from our sins and bring purification to our hearts so that we may share with Him in the kingdom of heaven.
As many rejoiced in their seeing, so too may the generations, past, now and yet to come, rejoice; not only through what they may see with their eyes, but what Simeon and Anna saw too from within their hearts. The prophesy, scripture and His creation are before us. We need only look at what He has created to know that such wonders come to us through Him; but it is with our hearts that we shall truly know Him. We may touch His face when we touch the face of a child, the face of the afflicted, the face of the less fortunate and the face of those who offer care. We see Him all around us, for He is presented to us in many ways; but to know Him, we must first seek to see Him within our hearts.
Through prayer, we may open the eyes of our heart. Through prayer, we may open ourselves to Him. Through prayer, if we choose to listen, He will guide us so we may see how He surrounds us. He is beyond our total understanding, but as we place our trust in Him, He will guide us away from our sin and to the glory of His kingdom. Let us pray each day, then, in thanks and praise for how He blesses our lives.
May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier
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