Practical discussion on contemporary life challenges from an ancient perspective.

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

GRACE FOR SANCTITY IN THE AGED

And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon,
and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and
the Holy Spirit was upon him.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.‎So he came by the Spirit into
the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him
according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God
and said: “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to
Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation Which You have prepared before
the face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the
glory of Your people Israel.” And Joseph
and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary
His mother, “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.”Now there was one, Anna, a
prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great
age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this
woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the
temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.And coming in that instant she gave thanks to
the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.(Luke 2:25-38)

Simeon
and Anna were not actually Jesus’ grandparents, but we see in them the kind of
sanctity which ought to be found in the elderly.Sanctity may not be a familiar term, but it’s
a fitting term which conveys godliness—and that is certainly evident in this
old man and woman.As we age
biologically, we should mature spiritually through God’s grace operating in
us.

Paul
told Titus that the older men and women of the church had a mentoring
assignment with the young men and women.Church at its ideal isn’t loaded with one particular demographic—whether
white headed elderly or spikey haired youth—but is multigenerational.Each has a dynamic to add: the vitality of
youth and stability of age.

What
kind of “grandparents,” whether literal or spiritual, do we need?Consider these characteristics of Simeon and
Anna.

There
needs to be PURITY, “And behold, there
was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout,
waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.(v.25)Simeon was just in his dealings with others and devout in his
relationship with God.Personal purity
marked him.He was a holy man.

Then
the godly will exhibit PATIENCE.Simeon
had been “waiting” (v.25) for years
for Messiah, and Anna, since becoming a young widow, had patiently served in
the house of God, “and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did
not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and
day.”(v.37)They did not allow time and trials to erode their hope.That happens far too often.

Spiritually
mature people possess PERCEPTION.

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.‎So he came by the Spirit into the temple. … Then Simeon blessed
them, and said to Mary His mother, “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.”
(v.26-27a; 34-35)

Simeon
had spiritual perception: he could see behind events, see through
circumstances, and see beyond the immediate situation.Those who are led of the Spirit can guide
others.

The
elders of the church ought to manifest PEACE, “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word”
(v.29).He was ready to go.Simeon was at peace.His life’s mission was fulfilled.Do we face aging and death with contentment?

Furthermore,
such sanctity is grounded and grown in PRAYER, “and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not
depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.” (v.37)Many will leave behind material goods, but
the greatest inheritance is intercession—not property, but prayers.They remain before God having an eternal
dimension.Their efficacy works beyond
our lifetime for generations to come

Older
saints ought to be noted for their PRAISE, “he took Him up in his arms and
blessed God” (v.28); “And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of
Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” (v.38)May
we who are
older members of the church be known for our helpfulness with the young and not
our harping about them!Too often we are
sour rather than sweet; known for grumbling instead of gladness.

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About Me

I am a mountaineer by birth--a native of Asheville, NC. For a period of ten years I lived in the Charlotte area and for the last eighteen, I have been "home." I was brought up in a Christian family. In fact, I went to church nine months before I was born! Despite the best efforts of parents and preachers, I went astray. The Prodigal Son story that Jesus told in Luke 15 became my story--a sordid life of drugs and booze and that's enough for you to know. But at the age of eighteen all I had been taught came flooding back into my mind when I saw the mess I was in. Christ changed me. I gave my life to Him and as a result have spent the last three decades preaching the Gospel. I'm not all I ought to be and certainly not what I one day shall be, but thankfully, not what I used to be! God has blessed me with a great wife, five wonderful children and so far, twelve grandchildren. To Him be the glory and praise, now and forever.