Sleep Not

Tonight, we watched the movie "The Nativity" which came out a few years ago. I love the way it depicts the birth of Christ and the very realistic relationship of Mary and Joseph. In the end, the shepherds come and worship this newborn gift to all mankind. Mary reassures them that this babe was a gift for all and welcomes their adoration. Most scholars believe that the wise men actually came several months or even years later, but the movie shows them coming that night as well. They worship and honor the King with three treasures of gold, frankincense , and myrrh. What a sight it must have been! Can you imagine it? I can just picture the awe and wonder etched in their faces.

Later, I thought of Anna and Simeon who recognized Jesus as the Christ child when his parents took him to the temple for circumcision. Most of their lives had been spent searching for what their eyes finally beheld. But, what of those that slept through the events of that night? What of the priests and others in the temple who never saw the King in their presence? What of the people on the streets who saw but did not recognize? They were so close to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and yet, they did not see. They slept through the most beautiful heavenly celebration witnessed by human eyes.

I don't want to sleep through what God is doing now- in our world- or pass by the work of His hands because I am too busy. Father, awaken my spirit to your work. Open my eyes to witness and truly see You- please do not let me just pass by the opportunities You have for me. Prepare my heart as you did Anna and Simeon to witness and see the King of Kings who will return again. Friend, let us not sleep through God's work and let our eyes see His reflection in each day!

"In Jerusalem at the time, there was a man, Simeon by name, a good man, a man who lived in the prayerful expectancy of help for Israel. And the Holy Spirit was on him. The Holy Spirit had shown him that he would see the Messiah of God before he died. Led by the Spirit, he entered the Temple. As the parents of the child Jesus brought him in to carry out the rituals of the Law, Simeon took him into his arms and blessed God: God, you can now release your servant; release me in peace as you promised. With my own eyes I've seen your salvation; it's now out in the open for everyone to see: A God-revealing light to the non-Jewish nations, and of glory for your people Israel. Jesus' father and mother were speechless with surprise at these words. Simeon went on to bless them, and said to Mary his mother, This child marks both the failure and the recovery of many in Israel, A figure misunderstood and contradicted— the pain of a sword-thrust through you— But the rejection will force honesty, as God reveals who they really are. Anna the prophetess was also there, a daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was by now a very old woman. She had been married seven years and a widow for eighty-four. She never left the Temple area, worshiping night and day with her fastings and prayers. At the very time Simeon was praying, she showed up, broke into an anthem of praise to God, and talked about the child to all who were waiting expectantly for the freeing of Jerusalem." (Luke 2:25-38 MSG)