[SPEAKER_00]: Christian parenting.

[SPEAKER_00]: Hello and welcome back to the Truth Seekers Podcast.

[SPEAKER_00]: Today is our 18th day of observing Advent as we count the days to Christmas.

[SPEAKER_00]: It took many days for the wise men to journey to Jesus.

[SPEAKER_00]: During that time Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem to be presented to God.

[SPEAKER_00]: The law of Moses stated that if the child born was the mother's first born son, [SPEAKER_00]: At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simian.

[SPEAKER_00]: He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel.

[SPEAKER_00]: The Holy Spirit was upon him and revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Messiah.

[SPEAKER_00]: That day the Spirit led him to the temple.

[SPEAKER_00]: So, when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there.

[SPEAKER_00]: He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace as you have promised.

[SPEAKER_00]: I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people.

[SPEAKER_00]: He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and He is the glory of your people Israel.

[SPEAKER_00]: A woman prophet named Anna was also in the temple.

[SPEAKER_00]: Anna lived their day and night fasting and praying and waiting for the Messiah to come.

[SPEAKER_00]: She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph and she began praising God.

[SPEAKER_00]: She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.

[SPEAKER_00]: Both Anna and Simeon had been waiting a long time to see the promised Messiah.

[SPEAKER_00]: God had spoken specifically to Simeon that he would, in fact, see the Messiah before he died.

[SPEAKER_00]: And that's just what happened.

[SPEAKER_00]: When Simeon and Anna saw the baby Jesus, they rejoiced because in their spirit they knew he was the promised Messiah that would be a light to the world and save us from our sins.

[SPEAKER_00]: As we wait for Jesus to return for us, it's important that we do not stop looking for Him and expecting Him to come.

[SPEAKER_00]: And a state at the temple day and night waiting for Jesus to come.

[SPEAKER_00]: Simeon too waited with confident expectation that He would see the Messiah.

[SPEAKER_00]: We must not lose hope in the second coming of Jesus.

[SPEAKER_00]: We are like Anna and Simian keeping our eyes fixed on our hope who is to come.

[SPEAKER_00]: Day and night we wait, we pray, we worship and we look for the coming of our King.

[SPEAKER_00]: He will return one day and he will be coming for those who have been waiting for him.

[SPEAKER_00]: Isaiah 41 31 says, but they that weighed upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint.

[SPEAKER_00]: Psalm 27 13 through 14 says, I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living, wait for the Lord, be strong, and let your heart take courage, wait for [SPEAKER_00]: Psalm 37, 34 says, wait for the Lord and keep His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land, you will look on when the wicked are cut off.

[SPEAKER_00]: Proverbs 3, 5 and 6 says, trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.

[SPEAKER_00]: In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.

[SPEAKER_00]: Isaiah 38 says, therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts Himself to show mercy to you, for the Lord is a God of justice, blessed are all those who wait for Him.

[SPEAKER_00]: Dear Jesus, we patiently await your return.

[SPEAKER_00]: We know that you have already come once to save us from our sins and to save us from the curse of death.

[SPEAKER_00]: And we wait for your second coming when we will see the fulfillment of everything you have promised.

[SPEAKER_00]: When we will be united with you and see you face-to-face.

[SPEAKER_00]: For this day we wait and for this day we rejoice.

[SPEAKER_00]: We look to you always.

[SPEAKER_00]: Our hearts are expectant.

[SPEAKER_00]: We know that you are not slow in keeping your promises.

[SPEAKER_00]: In Jesus' name.

[SPEAKER_00]: Amen.

[SPEAKER_00]: Today's readings came from Isaiah chapter 40 verse 31, Psalm chapter 27 13 through 14, Psalm chapter 37 verse 34, Proverbs chapter 3 verses 5 and 6, Isaiah 30, 18, and Luke 2 chapters 21 through 40.

[SPEAKER_00]: Thanks for joining me today, and I look forward to our time together, tomorrow.