Theme: People – Anna
Anna’s Story ....
36 There was also a prophet named Anna. She
was the daughter of Penuel from the tribe of Asher. Anna was very old. After
getting married, she lived with her husband seven years. 37 Then she was a widow until
she was 84. She never left the temple. She worshiped night and day, praying and
going without eating.
38 Anna came up to Jesus’ family at that very
moment. She gave thanks to God. And she spoke about the child to all who were
looking forward to the time when Jerusalem would be set free.
Bible Reference: Luke Chapter: 2: 36-38
Pause for
thought
What a life: widowed after, seven years of, marriage. Her
father, born the name: Penuel, that means; – ‘face of God’. She was a member of
the tribe of Asher; which means; ‘Happy blessed’. In this time, the meaning of
names were very significant, and an important part of ‘who you were’.
What we can take from this simple story is that Anna was a
women, of vision, for a time when God’s ultimate promise would be fulfilled; a
free Jerusalem – through a promised Messiah.
So committed to God, she chose to rise above her tragic loss, and live
out her years as a Servant of God – a Deaconess in the Temple Courts.
Her eyes saw the face of God, in Jesus as a reward for her
timely service of devotion – she was a true vision of her ancestors, name – a
person who was ‘happy and blessed.
What can Anna’s devotion teach you?
Meditation
The message of Anna,
is an act of timely vision. In this meditation listen to the Podcast of the
Celtic Hymn – Be thou my vision – who is your vision and inspiration this
Christmas?
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