Notes of Faith December 6, 2024
Ominous Notes
Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
Luke 2:34-35
When Jesus was a month old, His parents took Him the five miles from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, where they ascended the steps up into the temple area to dedicate Him to the Lord. To their surprise, they were greeted by two elderly people who had been looking for the Messiah—Simeon and Anna. Simeon took the child into his arms and uttered a prophecy over Him, but one sentence had an ominous note. He warned Mary a sword would pierce her soul.
Luke 2:25-35
25 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 "Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace,
According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES,
And the glory of Your people Israel."
33 And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed — 35 and a sword will pierce even your own soul — to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."
We wish our lives contained no ominous notes! We dread days of bad news, and we all fear moments when a “sword” pierces us. But Mary trusted God, and she lived through her moments of pain to see her Son resurrected from the dead.
Life sometimes has ominous notes, but God always ends with a melody of victory! Trust Him with all the notes of your life.
Trust in His unfailing love—love that moved Him to send a Savior from heaven to restore and rescue you. God’s plans for your life will not be thwarted.
Louie Giglio
As a pastor and parent, I have this simple failure. I dread when the phone rings, (but I always answer), that what I will hear is bad news, any trouble in someone’s life. And yet I also know that God graciously gave me these situations through His love for me and those that are calling. I do not know of anyone in my experience that has lived an ominous free life. How we respond is what is most important. God will lead us through every event, ominous catastrophe, serious trouble, and we will move onward in our walk with Christ! Not even death can win the victory! Let us learn from our ominous times, knowing the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are with us, meeting every need, toward eternal perfection!
Pastor Dale