Waiting Forwardly

Okay, how many of you want to correct the title?  Well, don't!  A reason awaits for the title, but not yet.  

Today, I felt lead to write about something other than our reading in the Chronological Bible.  I hope this is okay with those that follow, but if not oh well....

When I say the word anticipation, who or what do you think of?  What times in your life were  filled with eager anticipation?  Waiting the day you got married to walk the aisle?  Waiting for the ept test to show you were going to have a baby?  Waiting for the baby to arrive?  Waiting for school to be over?  Waiting for the teenager to walk through the door okay?  Waiting on your spouse to walk through the door and reassure you everything is fine?  waiting for the parent to say you did good?  Do you remember waiting for these things to happen?

Do you remember in Luke 2 the man "Simeon" that was waiting at the temple?  In fact, he had been waiting to see the Lord Christ.  The Spirit revealed to him that he would not die until this had happened.  We are told in chapter 2:25...he was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

I learned something so important this morning about this story from Max Lucado.  Max Lucado stated that Simeon's looking was as "waiting forwardly." The original word used to describe Simeon's actions was prosdechomai.  Dechomai meaning to wait and Pros meaning forward.  When you combine them you have  a wonderful image of "waiting forwardly".  Terrible grammar for teachers or others that mark papers up in corrections, but a fabulous picture of Simeon for us!  A picture of a man eagerly waiting, not wanting it right now, not hurry up, but just waiting for the LORD to appear!

Imagine the joy that went through every fiber of this man, when Jesus and his parents came to the temple on the 8th day.  The words that Simeon and Anna said about baby Jesus!

I want to close this morning with this question for all of us to ponder today; What are we looking forward to in life?  Is it temporary or eternal?  In Luke 2:25 the consolation of Israel was speaking about Jesus.  Is He alive and at work in your life?  Is He our hope and comfort?

It is my prayer that indeed He is our hope and comforter!  In the coming days, cling to Him!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie