The Messiah present
Lord, I wait for your saving help.
I do what you’ve commanded. ~ Psalm 119:166 (CEB)
The Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon that he wouldn’t die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple area. Meanwhile, Simeon took (the baby) Jesus in his arms and praised God. ~ Luke 2:26-27a, 28a (CEB)
KEY IDEA:
The Lord Jesus is our promised salvation.
PRAYER:
Lord, as we again prepare to celebrate your presence in human flesh we thank you for your faithfulness. As promised you have come to save us. I need saving because I have my own agenda for my life and I don't always do what you command. But Christmas is changing that. As I savor the wonder of your incarnation things are changing in me. Glory to God in the highest. Amen.
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
