Great Thoughts From A Friend

David Shibley is the founder of Global Advance, a ministry that equips pastors and Christian businessmen around the world (www.globaladvance.org) and a friend of mine.  GA is a wonderful ministry, and David is a great teacher and thinker.

In this month's Global Advance Enews, David, by way of Simeon, gives heartwarming insight on seeing in Christmas what others miss.  Thanks David for reminding us of the real reason for Kimbilio.

I share Dr. Shibley's thoughts with you, and wish you all a Christmas with "sight" this year!

A Humble Servant,
Greg

Other than Jesus, perhaps my favorite character in the Christmas story is Simeon.  Here was an old man with a promise from God: “Simeon, you are not going to die until you see the Lord’s Messiah with your own eyes.”  When it came to God promises, Simeon had a trusting heart.

But the years passed.  Faith had not yet been made sight.  But then one day . . . one unforgettable day! . . .

Where was Simeon when he felt God’s undeniable prompting?  The Bible doesn’t explicitly say.  Probably Simeon hung around the temple as much as possible.  Maybe on this day Simeon was at his little Jerusalem dwelling, going about his daily chores.  Suddenly . . . that familiar Voice came to his heart.  "Go to the temple, and go now!"

Can you picture this little man with a big promise as he hurriedly pushes his way through the narrow streets of Jerusalem?  Maybe the old man even sprints toward the t emple as the promise pounds in his chest.  “I’m not going to have a heart attack,” he remembers, “God won’t let me die until I see His Messiah!”

Simeon bursts into the temple – and there He is.  To others milling around, it looks like any other ordinary day.  Young Jewish couples with their baby boys, gathered to present them to the Lord.  To others, Mary and Joseph probably looked like just another couple and Jesus looked like just another baby.  But God gave Simeon eyes to see what others didn’t see.

Others saw a baby, Simeon saw a Savior.  It was Simeon’s Moment.  Imagine the thrill in Simeon’s heart as he takes up in his arms God Incarnate.  Overcome with worship he cries out, “Now Lord, I can die in peace because You have kept Your promise to me.  For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared for all people.  He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and the glory of Your people Israel” (Lu. 2:30-32). 

This awesome moment – Simeon’s Moment – is captured magnificently by Christian artist Ron Dicianni.  In his painting Simeon is overcome as he holds God’s Promise in his hands.  In the background is a façade of the world, symbolizing that Jesus is indeed the Light of the World.

How important is it to stay “in tune” with the promptings of the Holy Spirit?  Just ask Simeon.  I’m sure he is forever grateful that his heart was in communion with God the day he sensed the nudge to go without delay to the temple.

What a great honor God gave Simeon.  But why did God choose this little old man to make such a powerful prophetic pronouncement?

• He lived a godly life.  Simeon was “a just and devout man” (Lu. 2:25).
• He lived in hope.  He was “waiting for the consolation of Israel” (Lu. 2:25).
• He lived in the Spirit.  Simeon was “filled with the Holy Spirit,” “the Holy  Spirit revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah,” and “the Spirit led him to the temple” (Lu. 2:25-27).
• He lived beyond himself.  Simeon saw the big picture of Christ’s redeeming work for all peoples and nations.  He understood that Jesus came as “a light to reveal God to the nations, and the glory of Your people Israel” (Lu. 2:32).

God’s promised Redeemer has come to you, too.  Don’t miss your divine “moment” embracing Him this Christmas.

REMINDED

     Yesterday I was reacquainted with an old friend from seminary days!  
     It's not what you think, this person wasn't the type of friend that was a buddy, or someone I hung around.  He was much older and wiser than I, and didn't even attend school with me.   In fact, he's now been gone from this earth for 14 years!
     His name is Henri Nouwen, and he was an author that my professors loved to talk about and quote.  I learned to love the writings of Henri, especially The Wounded Healer.

     This was the book which introduced me to this wonderful pastor, and made me feel like I had a special connection with him...thus, my "friend"!  As a pastor, I loved what he stood for and how he thought.  He reminded me of another friend of mine...Jesus.  But I had forgotten so much in the busyness of "ministry."

     Yesterday, my conscience was jerked back to what I should have remembered.  I was reminded through another blog (Thank you Brad Briscoe) of the significance one person can have in the lives of many, simply by living out the mission of Jesus in their own; of taking the time away from the things that really do not matter in the larger scope of life.

     Listen to these words from my "friend" Henri.  Maybe he will become someone who will inspire you to be more of a refuge to others?  Maybe he will focus your life to those things which are most important...or I should say, those people who are most important.  


     "More and more, the desire grows in me simply to walk around, greet people, enter their homes, sit on their doorsteps, play ball, throw water, and be known as someone who wants to live with them.  It is a privilege to have the time to practice this simple ministry of presence.  Still it is not as simple as it seems.  
     My own desire to be useful, to do something significant, or to be part of some impressive project is so strong that soon my time is taken up by meetings, conferences, study groups, and workshops that prevent me from walking the streets.  It is difficult not to have plans, not to organize people around an urgent cause, and not to feel that you are working directly for social progress.  But I wonder more and more if the first thing shouldn't be to know people by name, to eat and drinking with them, to listen to their stories and tell our own, and to let them know with words, handshakes, and hugs that you do not simply like the, but truly love them." 
                                                                                  - Henri Nouwen


     Thank you for the reminder, my friend!  I had forgotten...


A Humble Servant!