from abaptist.org:
Daily Devotional:
Luke 2:25-33
Saturday, December 25
Salvation Becomes Visible
KEY VERSE: "For mine eyes have seen thy salvation," Luke 2:30.
Yes, this is the day the world calls Christmas. Although Christ's birth does not mean much to most of its celebrants, there are a few sincere believers who are happy to celebrate His birth.
The initials R.I.P. are found on so many tombstones that they now appear on virtually all cartoon depictions of marble headstones in spooky graveyards. By these initials the final farewell to the dead is, Rest In Peace. The idea, of course, is that death is a peaceful repose from the tumultuous cares of life. R.I.P. may not be so far off the mark when considering the joy Simeon felt when he held the baby Jesus in his arms. He was able to say, "Let thy servant now depart in peace."
What a tribute to this man of faith—that God would have promised him a personal view of the Messiah in his lifetime! And what a thrill it must have been for him to literally hold the Savior of the world! If ever there was an appropriate time for someone to say, "Now I can die happy." This was it.
Why was the aged Simeon happy to die at this time? He had seen God's salvation. We have many human desires—finding a cure for cancer or seeing our children happily married. But these are all based on carnal, fleshly desires. Should we not have a greater desire to see our Savior? This should be our greatest desire.
LIVING IT: Are you able to say, Even so, come, Lord Jesus? (Rev. 22:20).
Mary McCalister
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