We’ve been discussing how Christmas is in essence a “great interruption”! Christmas is when God interrupted history to send His Son into our world. Few of the characters in the biblical narrative were anticipating that God would show up in their lives so dramatically. Along with Simeon, there is one other who seemed to be expecting Messiah’s arrival:
“Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:36-38; NKJ)
Anna is a remarkable woman of God. Despite the tragedy of losing her husband at a young age, Anna did not allow bitterness and regret to dictate her life. She instead turned to God and served him with exemplary devotion. God rewarded her piety when she recognized the infant Jesus as the Messiah of God. It seems that Anna was part of a community of a few faithful believers who were eagerly watching and waiting for the Messiah. Anna used this blessed “interruption” of Jesus’ arrival to testify and encourage the people that God had fulfilled his longstanding promises and redemption was at hand.
I believe that interruptions are often just that: opportunities to encourage people and point them to Christ! A call from a friend a few days ago turned into an opportunity to share what God was doing in his life and mine. A recent meeting with a vendor at work turned into an unexpected but joyful celebration of her newfound faith in Christ! A chance meeting in the grocery store turned into an opportunity to encourage someone who was experiencing a difficult trial. Too often, I think of interruptions as annoyances, but God turns them into wonderful opportunities to minister to people! Be on the lookout for who God may bring into your path that could use a word of encouragement today.
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