Seeds of Obedience
Pastor David Wilson
Pineapples can be grown by the average person in their home, but you will be committed to persevering to the end; and by persevering I mean wait anywhere between 18 to 24 months to pick and eat a pineapple the size of a softball.
In Luke 2:22-35, we are given the account of a man named Simeon who was promised to see the Messiah. He would not see death until after he saw the Messiah. He must persevere in the meantime.
We must take care to recognize important factors in the context found in Luke. Forty days had passed since the day Jesus was born and Mary was going out for the first time. Ask yourself a question, “Why did Mary wait forty days to leave her home after Jesus’ birth?” It seems kind of weird, huh? In the Law the Hebrew mothers, following the birth of a male child, had to stay in the home for forty days and with a female child, the requirement was eighty days. Mary chose to obey the law and submit to the Lord’s authority.
Place yourself in Joseph and Mary’s shoes for the moment. You are leaving home for the first time, where would you go? I know where I would go, but Joseph and Mary chose to visit the temple with Jesus, instead of visiting family or anything else. They chose to fulfill the Law concerning the birth of the first male (which was to present the first male to the Lord with an offering). Joseph and Mary’s choices displayed their faith by obeying God.
Luke 2:22-24 clearly focuses on Joseph and Mary’s devotion to honor the Lord and then we are to direct our focus upon one man: Simeon. We are given a description of Simeon in verses 25-27. He is described as a man from Jerusalem. He is known to be righteous, devout, and awaiting the consolation of Israel (which is the coming of the Messiah). Simeon is given a promise (verse 26) that he would not see death until he saw the Messiah. The Holy Spirit is setting up Simeon to be a valid testimony, who resides outside the family connections of Jesus, so people are given the lawful testimony of Jesus as Messiah.
Here is laid out for us a perfect picture to salvation: purification which is required before God, the presentation of a soul to the Lord with sacrifices as stated in the Law, and the valid testimony for authentication before those present. Joseph and Mary’s choices were based on obeying the Law. Simeon’s choices obeyed the Spirit. The two parties trusted in the Lord; their faith was expressed by obedience to the Law and honoring the Lord, and the result was their testimonies which authenticated the Lord to those present.
Seeds of obedience are only grown by faith resulting in fruit to publicly present truth! What seeds are you planting, faith or fear? Obedience is an act of faith, it challenges whether you trust the Lord more than yourself. Sow seeds of faith and allow that sweet fruit to grow for all to enjoy no matter how long it takes.
Pastor David Wilson
Pineapples can be grown by the average person in their home, but you will be committed to persevering to the end; and by persevering I mean wait anywhere between 18 to 24 months to pick and eat a pineapple the size of a softball.
In Luke 2:22-35, we are given the account of a man named Simeon who was promised to see the Messiah. He would not see death until after he saw the Messiah. He must persevere in the meantime.
We must take care to recognize important factors in the context found in Luke. Forty days had passed since the day Jesus was born and Mary was going out for the first time. Ask yourself a question, “Why did Mary wait forty days to leave her home after Jesus’ birth?” It seems kind of weird, huh? In the Law the Hebrew mothers, following the birth of a male child, had to stay in the home for forty days and with a female child, the requirement was eighty days. Mary chose to obey the law and submit to the Lord’s authority.
Place yourself in Joseph and Mary’s shoes for the moment. You are leaving home for the first time, where would you go? I know where I would go, but Joseph and Mary chose to visit the temple with Jesus, instead of visiting family or anything else. They chose to fulfill the Law concerning the birth of the first male (which was to present the first male to the Lord with an offering). Joseph and Mary’s choices displayed their faith by obeying God.
Luke 2:22-24 clearly focuses on Joseph and Mary’s devotion to honor the Lord and then we are to direct our focus upon one man: Simeon. We are given a description of Simeon in verses 25-27. He is described as a man from Jerusalem. He is known to be righteous, devout, and awaiting the consolation of Israel (which is the coming of the Messiah). Simeon is given a promise (verse 26) that he would not see death until he saw the Messiah. The Holy Spirit is setting up Simeon to be a valid testimony, who resides outside the family connections of Jesus, so people are given the lawful testimony of Jesus as Messiah.
Here is laid out for us a perfect picture to salvation: purification which is required before God, the presentation of a soul to the Lord with sacrifices as stated in the Law, and the valid testimony for authentication before those present. Joseph and Mary’s choices were based on obeying the Law. Simeon’s choices obeyed the Spirit. The two parties trusted in the Lord; their faith was expressed by obedience to the Law and honoring the Lord, and the result was their testimonies which authenticated the Lord to those present.
Seeds of obedience are only grown by faith resulting in fruit to publicly present truth! What seeds are you planting, faith or fear? Obedience is an act of faith, it challenges whether you trust the Lord more than yourself. Sow seeds of faith and allow that sweet fruit to grow for all to enjoy no matter how long it takes.
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