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December 29 Daily Devotional

Twilight: Yet Saints Their Watch Are Keeping

the Rev. Andrew Kuyvenhoven

Monthly Theme:

The Prince of Peace, the Son of David, was announced by Isaiah. The story of his coming was proclaimed by the evangelists, each with a different emphasis. Jesus made God's kingship real in this world. Today, the kingdom is here—and it is coming.

Bible Reading:

Luke 2:36–38

Bible Text:

[Anna] spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem (Luke 2:38).

Devotional:

Something is missing in the many Christmas cantatas and nativity plays you and I have witnessed. We see children picturing Joseph and Mary. We see a manger with straw or hay. We see bathrobed shepherds and lots of angels. We see three wise men who come from the East. But we do not see Simeon or Anna.

That's a strange omission, because Simeon and Anna are the ones who have the clue to the whole story. In the Bible it's Simeon and Anna who give us the key to the Christmas event.

Anna, the prophetess, was either 84 years old or had been a widow for 84 years. She practically lived in the temple, urging God day after day to come and fulfill his promise—giving God no rest. And when the promise was fulfilled, Anna "gave thanks to God."

She was also the one who spread the news. She talked to "all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem." So there was a group of Old Testament believers who were keeping watch and had not given up.

"The comfort of Israel" for which Simeon was hoping is the same as the "redemption of Jerusalem" (see Isa. 52:9). Later, Luke will tell of Joseph of Arimathea who was "waiting for the kingdom of God" (23:51) and of Cleopas who thought that maybe Jesus was going to "redeem Israel" (24:21).

Even in the darkest hours of apostasy, there are saints who hope in the Lord and pray until the morning breaks.


Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published in 1994. This edition is copyright by Faith Alive Christian Resources, from whom may be ordered Daylight, the predecessor of Twilight.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this edition of Twilight are from the New International Version

Be sure to read the "Preface" and the "Acknowledgments" by the author.

 

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