16
Do You See What I See?
Jon Burgess8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:8-9
These verses in 1 Peter made me think about of the often overlooked saints in the Christmas story. Peter describes a faith that sees with spiriutal eyes what cannot be seen with the natural. Unlike the other main characters in the Christmas Story Simeon didn't get a visitation from angels or a glorious star in the heavens to guide him. Simeon had nothing to look at in natural. What he had was a supernatural promise from the Holy Spirit. Luke 2 describes him this way:"25Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lordʼs Messiah. 27Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
30For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
I love Christmas Carols and the stories behind them. “Do You Hear What I Hear” was actually a call for peace during the turbulence of the 1960s. The song talks about the humbleness of the announcement of Jesus’ birth – only the night wind and the little lamb have heard about it. Almost everyone in the land Judea missed the birth the Messiah right next door. They were looking for their picture of the Messiah and missed Him completely. The same is true today. If we aren't careful we hear what we want to hear and see what we want to see and end up walking by sight instead of faith. I want to see what Simeon saw. There's no reason I can't. The same Holy Spirit that spoke to Simeon and led him is the same Holy Spirit in me! I've never seen an angelic choir. I've never been led by giant star. I have heard the whisper of the Holy Spirit promising to show me what Jesus is doing in any given situation if I would just take the time to look.
Thank You for coming Jesus! Unlike Simeon, I don't have to wait my entire life to see You. Through Your Holy Spirit I can see You moving. Let me wake up every morning like a kid on Christmas morning excited at the possibilities of what awaits me as I follow You! How amazing that I don't have to wait until the end of my life to receive the end results of my faith, the salvation of my soul!
