Dicky To's Inspirational Writings

This post is a devotional written by Chad Young, author of Authenticity: Real Faith in a Phony, Superficial World. http://www.findingauthenticchristianity.com/authenticity-the-book/

Waiting on the Lord is essential to our Christian lives. You will learn more on this subject by reading Chad’s devotional. At the end, you will find his contact information and a link to his website.

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“Staying Faithful to God” by Chad Young

Simeon was a devout man of prayer, who lived in the prayerful expectancy of help for Israel. The Holy Spirit revealed to him that he would see the promised Messiah before he died, but he had been waiting a long time and was growing very old. Moved by the Holy 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, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’ The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.” (Luke 2:27-33)

Perhaps you are in a transitional stage of life, waiting to see what God has in store next. What is your future career? Who should you marry? What is God leading you to do next? Or, maybe you have been doing the same things for a long time (same job, same ministry at church, continuing good parenting, etc.), and you’re struggling to muster energy and enthusiasm you once possessed. You desire to bring God glory through your work, but you are tired and things seem mundane.

I imagine it was easy for Simeon, in his old age, to lose faith that he would live to see the Savior of mankind. He must have been close to the end of his life if he said, “You now dismiss your servant in peace.” Yet he continued to trust in the Lord, and remained ready when the Holy Spirit told him to enter the temple courts. My guess is he passed away soon after because Simeon is never mentioned again in Scripture.  As I’m working through transition or continuing to press on and do well with my current responsibilities, I remember these lessons from Simeon’s story:

1) Be faithful. Simeon remained faithful until he saw Jesus.  This isn’t the only time when someone was faithful to wait on God’s timing.  The story of David also shows great faithfulness. David was very young, almost a boy, when he was anointed as the king ofIsrael by the prophet Samuel in 1 Samuel 16. However, he had to wait many years before Saul died before he officially became king. David was faithful!  Like David and Simeon, we must also be faithful to do well and complete the task we are currently undertaking.

2) Be focused. Simeon did not take his eyes off the Lord. He continued to be focused on prayer throughout his life. Again, David is a good example of this as well as he waited to officially become the king ofIsrael. Saul had been trying to murder him when David found Saul asleep one evening (1 Samuel 26). Abishai, one of David’s mighty men, said, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of my spear; I won’t strike him twice.” But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless?” David stayed focused, and he didn’t sin by being disobedient to God and taking matters into his own hands.

3) God’s plans for us are good, and he will reveal those plans in his timing (Jeremiah 29:11).

The story of Simeon reminds me to trust in the Lord as I’m waiting on his direction. What decisions are you currently facing? How does the story of Simeon speak to you, and what application can you take from it? Spend time today praying for wisdom in your decisions, and ask God to give you faith and patience like Simeon and David had. Surrender your heart to the Lord, and trust in him to lead you well.

About the Author:

Chad Young is the author of Authenticity: Real Faith in a Phony, Superficial World, available at Amazon.  As Campus Crusade for Christ’s director for the South Carolina Lowcountry with a scope of 25 college campuses and 70,000 students,Chad resides inCharleston,SC, with his wife Elizabeth and their four young children: Wyatt, Clark, Evelyn and Josilynn. He holds an undergraduate degree from Clemson University and a graduate degree from Georgia Tech; Chad worked in the paper industry for 6 years before going into full-time ministry. He has served on the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ for 9 years and has also written a discipleship training manual. He has a passion for helping students learn what it means to have an authentic relationship with Christ.

Here is his contact information:

Chad H. Young, Director of the SC Lowcountry
Campus Crusade for Christ International
1304 Woodpecker Lane
North Charleston, SC 29410
E-mail: chad.young@uscm.org
Website: http://www.findingauthenticchristianity.com/authenticity-the-book/