Being joyful over God’s plan is realizing how fantastic it is because only God can rescue us from our sins. When man fell into sin in the Garden of Eden, it may have seemed that humanity was doomed, and nothing could have repaired their broken relationship. God planned to rescue his fallen children in His mercy and grace. Ephesians 1:4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. [1]
God chose you to be drawn to faith before you were created. God’s plan for your life should give every believer a reason to praise Him! Colossians 1:13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. [2]
Simeon’s Joy
Simeon was a righteous and devout believer waiting for the Messiah to come to Israel. One day, the Holy Spirit urged him to go to the Temple in Jerusalem, where he would meet Jesus. Luke 2:27So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, 28 Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, 29 “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. [3]
God’s plan would require Jesus to break into time and space and take on human form. Simeon was overjoyed that God’s promise of seeing Messiah was coming true. As true God and true Man, Jesus could pay the blood price for our sins. Thirty-three years later, He would give His life on the cross at Calvary. Matthew 20:28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”[4]
God’s Keeps His Promises
As Simon cradled the baby Jesus in his arms, he held God’s promise of salvation. Seven hundred years before Jesus came, Isaiah, the prophet, wrote about how the Messiah would suffer to provide our healing. Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. [5] Simeon could now die in peace after he saw Jesus. The peace he experienced was only possible because God had sent His Son into the world to pay the price for our sins. Every believer in Jesus can also depart in peace because of faith in Him. To learn how you can be joyful over God’s plan, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/more-prophecy-of-jesus
[1-5] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.