Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Old age: with hope in God
“..and
then was a widow until she was eighty- four. She never left the temple but
worshiped night and day, fasting and praying”. Luke 2; 37
Many times people
in their old age find that they cannot do as much as they did in the past, and
they feel as if God cannot use them in their old age. In this meditation we
will see of the many blessings the aged can expect and believe God to do
according to His word the part the old people can play in God’s plan. We are
going to look through the life of an extremely old widow named Anna.
We
are told that Anna was a prophetess, indicating that she was unusually close to
God. Once, Anna was a beloved wife in a sweet home. But her husband died all of
a sudden. She had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and
then as a widow until she was eighty-four. When she lost her husband, she could
have spent her life as a sorrowful widow. But she overcame herself and made a
decision of faith to live in the house of God among God’s people, serving them
as a mother of prayer. She was exceptionally faithful in attending all services
in the temple, spent much time in fasting and prayer. That “she never left the
temple” means that she made her life occupation to be at worship whenever the
doors of the temple were open. Her lifestyle of worshipping, fasting and
praying indicates a woman of faith and devotion. She built her life around
worshiping God and serving people.
Look at verse
38.” Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke
about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of
Jerusalem.” This verse says that she prayed for the redemption of Jerusalem.
She was nothing but a widowed woman. But she was a prayer servant of the times,
and her prayer was for her nation, not for welfare benefits. She prayed for the
Messiah to come and save her people from their sufferings and redeem them from
the hands of evil power. At the moment she saw the baby Jesus, her eyes were
opened to the fact that He was the Messiah. She spoke with gratitude and
praised God as the faithful one who fulfilled His promises. And she spoke about
the child, especially to the group of righteous people in Jerusalem who were
also looking forward to the redemption of God that He would bring through Jesus
the Messiah.
Let me
conclude we must be spiritually in tune with God and build our lives around
worshipping God. Anna had many disappointments in her life to worry over, lots
to regret. But she did not dwell on life’s rough ride. Instead, she even in her
old age looked to God with hope. Her secret was in her worship and expectation
for God. Worship and praise were natural to her; worship and praise were the
center of her life. We must take Anna‘s example and look ahead to God’s great
plan for us and the world. May God use us as Anna in this dark generation.
Thought for
the day: We must
build our lives around worshiping and praising God. Then we will never be
disappointed.
Prayer: Lord, help us to lead a faithful
life in you even in the midst of trials and tribulations and live in God with
hope. Amen
Rev. Saji Thomas, Dallas
Theme for the week: Old age: with hope in God