-December 10, 2022-
Good morning, happy Saturday,
“Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of 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” (Luke 2:36-37).
“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 2:38).
Like Simeon, Anna was in the at the right place at the right time to see the Messiah, the newborn King. She was the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She is one of just five women in the Bible who are called a prophetess. The others were Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, Huldah, the wife of Shallum, the keeper of the Wardrobe, Noadiah, an false prophetess who opposed Nehemiah, and an unnamed prophetess who was the wife of Isaiah.
She had married as a young girl, likely a teenager, and lived with her husband seven years before tragedy stuck, and her husband died. She went through great affliction and sorrow, yet instead of turning against the Lord, she dedicated herself to living for the Lord and serving Him the rest of her life. Oh, that all of us would dedicate ourselves fully to the Lord. At the time Mary and Joseph came into the temple with the Baby Jesus, she was a widow of eighty-four years old. She served God with fastings and prayers night and day, and never left the temple.
She was a very special lady. The very instant she saw Jesus, she gave thanks to the Lord. Not only did she thank the Lord, but she also spike of Him to all those who were waiting for Messiah to come. She realized it was not about her, but all about Jesus. What a great lesson for us to learn and keep in mind as we live for the Lord, serve Him, and share Him with others. She had the awesome privilege of seeing Jesus! It was a momentous time in her life. Once you meet Jesus, you are never the same again.
May the Lord help us to live all our lives fully committed to Christ, telling others of Him. Jesus is the reason for the season. Have a blessed day and Christmas season.
Praising God for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 