All devotions are written by our Founding Pastor Bill Elliff. More blogs and books from Bill at billelliff.com.

Luke 2 | Waiting for the Messiah

As you look through your neighborhood or workplace and scan the sea of people, you realize there are not many who have found Christ. It is a narrow way, Jesus said, that leads to Him, and most are only interested in the broad path.

Even in the church, thousands know Christ and perhaps have a personal relationship with Him, but are not experiencing a daily, conscious sense of His presence and are not experiencing Him.

 

WAITING


Simeon’s story is recorded in Luke 2. He was a “righteous and devout man” whose heart longed for the coming Messiah. He was in the habit of “looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him” (Luke 2:26).


One day the Spirit compelled him to go into the temple, and, to his amazement, Jesus was there, eight days old, brought by his parents. Simeon’s eyes were opened, and he “took him in his arms” and pronounced a prophetic blessing upon him. He experienced what he had waited for all his life.


Simeon looked for Christ. He waited for Him. By following the prompting of God’s Spirit, he was in a position to encounter Christ.


If you desire to know Christ more intimately, to see Him more fully, to encounter Him more experientially, then you must posture yourself in His presence. This is done by turning your eyes from other things and following the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Avoid the noisy marketplace and go into the quiet temple and you will find Him there.


There is far more of Christ than you can imagine. And Jesus longs for you to know Him more fully.


Copyright © 2021 Bill Elliff. All Rights Reserved.