But His parents were unaware of it, but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day’s journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances” (Luke 2:43a-44).  

We are sometimes unaware of what is happening.  We can trust too much in our own expectations that we fail to see that things are not going as we think they ought to be.  Life is often full of surprises.  We become anxious and do not think clearly.  The Lord is doing what He is doing.  It is not He who conforms to us, but He calls us to be conformed to Him.  This is the Father’s world, and it shall be as He has created it to be. 

Lord, in my anxiety, help me to take time to sit back, reflect, and ask the question, “What are You doing?”  Help me to not be anxious in this world, for I know that sin has made a mess of things.  Aid me to reflect upon my own sin and the problems it causes.  May I come to You, be instructed in the good, true and beautiful, and walk in the way You set before me.  Lead me into the righteousness You offer by grace. 

Lord Jesus, You honored Your parents, but You also had the call of the Father upon Your life.  You understand the conflicts of this world pressing in against what needs to be done.  Help me to look to You when there are difficulties in order to understand that You will lead me the way I need to go.  When pressed, all the more, guide me to take each step as You show me, so that I may walk in this life by Your direction.  Amen. 

“Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.  And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast; and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem” (Luke 2:41-43a).

Jesus earthly parents were devout Jews.  They followed the customs of the day.  True worship was done in Jerusalem at the temple.  The time and activities were known and practiced.  Jesus experienced the religious convictions of His parents.  We too have received similar instruction through our experience in upbringing.  These things influence us.  Greater than all of this is the call of the Holy Spirit upon our lives.

Lord, I often see where You have brought influences into my life.  There are many things I do not see.   Help me, I pray, to understand more fully that You, in eternal and Triune relationship, are creating a union which You have made between us for Your sake and that all I do emanates out of what You are doing in Your creation.  You have given me the upbringing I have had for Your purpose.  Let this cause me to look to You, the author and finisher of my faith.

My Savior Jesus, You experienced things in this life as I have experienced them.  You understand the various positions we hold as we grow in years.  Help me to realize that You understand what it means to be in this world amongst all of the things that are going on.  Guide me by Your grace to be receptive and respond to what You are doing.  Lead me to become faithful as You are faithful.  Amen.

“When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth.  The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him” (Luke 2:39-40).

Jesus grew up in this life as you and I do.  He knows what it is to be human.  In the mystery of the Incarnation, we have before us the simple truth that God became man, fully man, and lived as we live, experiencing those things that children experience and from our same perspective.  Take comfort in the fact that God truly understands.  He has walked in our shoes and knows the limitations of this life.

Help me,Lord, when I come to those times where I do not believe anyone else understands.  You do.  You know what it is like to meet frustrations in this sinful world.  Guide me to realize that You have come to lead the way so that whatever I experience, You have a first-hand understanding.  In the love You have shown, lead me to live into what You are offering me through grace.

Lord Jesus, You have come compassionately so that we who know sin may experience the life You are offering that is without sin.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to realize that You alone are able to lead me from where I am to where You now are.  I must go through this life and learn its lessons in order to become like You.  Continuously guide me in the way of everlasting life which You have set before me.  Amen.

“At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38).

We look around and wonder what this all means.  Many times the answer is right before us.  Will we receive the answer God gives or look somewhere else for the answer we want?  The redemption of the world was laid upon Christ.  He who took away the sin of the world stands before each one of us.  He invites us to have an intimate and personal relationship with Him.

Lord God, Creator of all things, You have set before us the opportunity to be in relationship with You.  You have given us the words of eternal life.  You are the Word made flesh.  You have set before us the way of life.  Help all who are truly seeking to understand the utter simplicity of the message You have given us.  Like Anna, help us to thank You for the circumstances in which we find ourselves.

Lord Jesus, Your given name tells us all that we need to know.  You are the Savior.  You are God in the flesh who has come to redeem us.  As You walk with me, open my heart more and more to understand that I have always been walking with You beside me.  Lead me into life as You intend for it to be lived that I might abide in You each moment of every day that You give me.  Amen.

“And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers” (Luke 2:36-37).

There are those whom the Lord calls who are dedicated to His service.  Anna was one of these people.  Living a devoted life of prayer and service, they are often seen as fixtures in the church, but seldom thought of.  We each have a call upon our lives.  We each have a desire to serve.  The question is, whom will we serve?  Anna served the Lord.  Whom do you serve?  Not that everyone must do as Anna did, but this is a good question for each of us to ask ourselves.

Lord, I say that I serve You, but I most often serve myself.  You have given many examples of those who have willingly and lovingly served You.  Help me to learn and understand from their example what it means to serve.  Help me to understand what devotion means and learn how to be devoted to what is good, right and salutary.  Guide me out of the life of one who lives for self, and into a right way of living.

Lord Jesus, You came to serve.  You have served each one of us by granting us grace through the shedding of Your own blood.  Help me now and always to see that in this world of selfishness, no one really gets anywhere; but in You, we have the opportunity to learn how to live life as it is meant to be lived.  Guide me in the upward call You have given me to humbly walk the upward path of salvation You have placed before me.  Amen.

“And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him.  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 – and a sword will pierce even your own soul – to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 2:33-35).

This is a different kind of prophecy that reflects wisdom born of age.  This is a shift from the nation to the person.  The Lord raised up Israel to show what kind of God He is.  He has come to redeem individuals so that we can live in the truth of who He is.  Our hearts are revealed, and the One who created us loves us, redeems us, and has come and bears the brunt of our burdens.

Lord, there are so many things going on around me and I do not know where to stop, listen and learn.  You have offered me wisdom.  You grant me strength.  Help me to hear when people of wisdom speak.  Help me to hear when You speak through others.  You know my heart and You are slowly revealing it to me.  Lead me in the way of life which is right, fitting and abiding in Your will.

Lord Jesus, the people then did not know who You were.  People now still do not know who You are.  Help me to see You, come to know You, and walk in the provision You place before me.  Guide me to become wise as Simeon, loving You and those whose paths cross mine.  Be the One who is leading me in living this life You have given me.  Help me to see the new heart You are creating in me.  Amen.

“For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a Light of revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel” (Luke 2:30-32).

Mine eyes have seen Your salvation.  Have you seen Jesus?  Jesus is your salvation!  The body of Christ, the church, His bride, is a continuation of the Incarnation.  One comes into a living relationship with the living Lord.  Have You seen Jesus?  Wherever two or more are gathered in His name, there He is.  The Lord has prepared this in the sight of all people.  Those who are given sight, see.

Lord, You have shown us Your salvation.  It is not an idea or precept, but You in person.  Coming to You is coming to salvation.  Sinfully, we want some other thing to follow, but You are asking us to follow You.  Lead me away from what I want to come into Your peace which surpasses all understanding.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life so that I may humbly follow You.

Salvation shown, Jesus my Savior, You came and fulfilled the promises given to the prophets of old.  In these last days, teach me what it means to listen to You.  Guide me in the way of life which You have come to establish.  You know all that I need in order to follow You, and You have provided all that is needful.  Lead me, dear Savior, in being a part of what You are creating.  Help me to live faithfully among all people.  Amen.

“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, then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word” (Luke 2:27-29)

The Lord has fulfilled His promise with the coming of Messiah.  The faithful of every time, moved by the Holy Spirit, know.  It is true for all of us.  With the coming of Jesus, we are brought into the peace which surpasses all understanding.  All things which remain shall equally be to the Word of the Lord.  The Lord is faithful and brings us to the place of peace.

Lord, amidst a world filled with hostility, You have come bringing peace.  Help me to understand all that You have fulfilled according to Your word as well as the things to come which shall be done in Your perfect timing. Teach me trust You above all of the things of this world, for You are the Maker of all things.  I am Your bond-servant and You have given me peace through Your salvation.

Lord Jesus, God’s salvation, You are the peace we long for.  Reconciled to You and what You have accomplished, You are bringing all things into submission to lay at the Father’s feet.  I live in the in-between time.  Help me to learn how to be faithful, giving praise and thanksgiving without looking to my circumstances, but instead trust in the truth that Your word has been and will be fulfilled.  Amen.

“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.  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” (Luke 2:25-26).

The name Simeon means to hear or listen.  Simeon was a devout man who looked for God’s presence in the hope of what He had promised.  He was told by the Lord that the Christ would come in his lifetime.  It takes faith to trust the Lord.  Listen as the Lord speaks and heed the word He gives.  The Lord has given us all the word of hope in the promise that, because Jesus lives, we too shall live.

Almighty God, You have given us a revelation that is filled with hope and promise.  You have fulfilled those words of prophecy that we might believe.  Help our unbelief and continually remind us that we live by faith.  What we cannot yet see will come to pass as You have told us.  Teach us to be devout with our lives, living according to the word You have given us in the hope of faith.

Lord Jesus, You are the fulfilment of the promise.  You have come to us that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Guard and guide my mind to rest upon the hope You give above all earthly circumstances.  Lead me in my life that I may hold fast to the hope You give.  May I be found faithful in the small things You give me and not listen to the world which seeks to distract me.  Amen.

“And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons” (Luke 2:22-24).

Set apart for the Lord’s service, according to the word the Lord established, our Savior was dedicated.  We too have been dedicated through the water of our baptism in order that we might walk in the way of holiness.  Come to the Lord with the dedication You have received and walk in His ways all the days of Your life.  He is the One who not only will, but must, lead the way.

Lord God, I am often too independent.  I think in terms of what I can or cannot do.  You have come so that I may have life and have it abundantly.  You have come to show me the way to live.  You have come to prepare and lead the way which leads to eternity.  Help me to live in the faith You gave me.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to humbly walk with You in the baptism You have given me.

Savior Jesus, You have done all things in accordance with the will of the Father.  Teach me how to do the same.  Today and each day You give me, guide me in Your goodness and mercy to hear, see, and understand through Your word and prayer.  Let me take in what You give that I may expel all that need not be in me.  Sanctify me in order that I may always humbly walk with You leading the way.  Amen.