“But when the time had fully come God sent His son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.” Galatians 4:4
If you have ever organized or coordinated a nativity play you know what I am talking about. I worked as a Sunday school teacher for nearly 4 years and we used to put nativity play every year with small kids. I am telling you it’s not one of the easiest job in the world. It is very frustrating at times because we cannot have all the kids playing their part in correct timing. When its “Joseph’s” turn to enter the stage he will be crying and sitting in mamas lap. When its shepherds’ scene, two shepherds will be fighting and one would have gone for a “wee” break. The wise men will be arguing over their gifts. And you will lose your energy shouting “Joseph… its your turn now”, “Shepherds… its your turn”…
But look at Anna in the bible:
“There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 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.”
Underline the words “coming up to them at that very moment”. One translation put it this way: “She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God.”
It’s almost like God is orchestrating a grand nativity scene here. Timing is everything. Anna had to be present in the right place at the right time to do her part. God planned his characters for the birth of his Son in a grand way. Anna and Simeon’s role are very crucial in the birth of Jesus.
Deuteronomy 19:15 says “By the mouth of two or three the matter shall be established”.
Once Jesus said to the Pharisees “In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”
Therefore, the testimonies of two or three are very important to confirm the birth of Messiah. And Simeon and Anna were chosen as the two witnesses. Anna had to be there in the temple when Mary and Joseph were there. She had to be there when Simeon was there.
The bible says “Coming up to them at that very moment…while Simeon was talking..”, Anna entered the grand stage of God’s nativity and played her part.
Isn’t that great? She was in tune with God and she fulfilled her role in an impeccable way. She was not in a huff with God. She didn’t wake up in the wrong side of the bed. She didn’t frustrate God by her tantrums. She was not late to church that day. She didn’t take her phone and informed her pastor “I am not feeling great today, I am feeling depressed because nothing interesting is happening in my life. So I won’t be coming to the temple”. If she had done that she would have missed playing her part in God’s nativity!
TIMING IS EVERYTHING IN GOD’S KINGDOM! Christmas is all about God’s timing.
Galatians 4:4 says
“But when the time had fully come God sent His son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.”
In the Greek language there were two words for time: one is “Kronos” from which we get chronology and other is “Kairos” which means “opportune time” – you seize an opportunity that comes your way.
Kairos – You seize an opportunity that comes your way.
Anna must not have had a clue that she was part of this grand play. She had a bad past as her husband died when she was very young. But she didn’t get stuck to her painful past. She could have easily blamed God and lived in bitterness. She could have played a pity party all her life. She had reasons to get depressed. But she moved forward to be part of this God’s grand nativity play. Imagine if Anna had not moved forward from that past she would have been mourning and complaining to God. She would have been at home depressed. She would have been thinking over the death of her husband again and again and asked God “WHY”? And probably when Simeon was in temple Anna would have missed her part in God’s nativity play!
Anna moved forward to be present at the right time to see God’s miracle!!! You need to be in the right place and at the right time to see God’s miracle. For that, you need to be in tune with God. For that you need to move forward.
Jesus arrived late to the home of Mary and Martha and by that time Lazarus was already in the tomb. Mary struggled to move forward and she lived in the “past”. She didn’t even realize that Jesus has arrived and is in the “present”. She said “If you had been here this tragedy would not have happened”.
How many of you are crying to God like this? How many of you are struggling to move forward like Mary? But Jesus replied, “If you believe you will see the glory of God.” Jesus must have reminded Mary that He is the God of NOW and FUTURE and we should not dwell in the PAST.
You might have had a bad past like Anna. May be a bad marriage, a divorce. May be a bad experience in workplace. May be a loss of loved one. But God is saying “Forget the former things. Do not dwell on the past. I am doing something new in your present. Can’t you see it?”
Therefore be faithful to God even in tough times like Anna. Anna was praying, worshipping God even amidst tough times. Just play your part daily and do it cheerfully. Be in tune with God. Trust God’s timing and be part of God’s timing. Stop regretting your past and move forward to be part of Gods timing. Just like Anna one day you will see God’s miracle at the right time.
Kairos!!! Seize an opportunity that comes your way…
This message is written by Bro. Davidson Samuel who is an IT Professional / Subject Matter Expert in Banking domain, based out of Scotland, UK.
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