On the Twelfth Day of Christmas

Yesterday we looked at an encounter between the Mary, Joseph, the infant Jesus and Simeon.  Right after that meeting, the trio met another person. 

“There was also a prophet, Anna… 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.” (Luke 2:36-38)

There was a Jewish principle from the Old Testament that, “every matter must be established by two or three witnesses.”  At one point, Jesus even quoted that principle.   Anna, following Simeon, makes witness number two! 

To what was she a witness?  Notice that speaking to people, “who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem,” Anna, “spoke about the child to them.”  Think about the implication of that:  Like Simeon, Anna also somehow knew that this infant was no ordinary infant, but a Savior.  She had connected the dots between this child and redemption and she witnessed to that truth.

But how was she able to connect the dots?  I think it was her devotion.  Broadcast signals are all around us nonstop but you need a receiver tuned to the right frequency to get those signals.  Anna was spiritually, “tuned in,” to what God was doing.  How does one tune in?  Spiritual disciplines!  Anna’s example includes things like prayer, fasting, giving thanks and worship. 

God is still on the move.  Keep yourself spiritually in a place where you’ll recognize it.

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