Having Seen God’s Salvation

Having Seen God’s Salvation
Luke 2:21-38
September 15, 2024

At least for some things, I am not the most patient person in the world.  I have been known to get a little hangry while waiting for dinner to cook.  I don’t like waiting for traffic lights or for accidents to clear.    I don’t like waiting in checkout lines at any store.  Waiting just feels like a waste of time — I have things to do, and the delays are preventing me from finishing my tasks.  So I “stew.”  What do you do while waiting? 

• When you are waiting nine months for the baby to arrive?
• When your boss told you that you will have a performance review next week?
• When the tax return is two months late in being returned?
• When Amazon says the package you need tomorrow is going to be delayed three days?
• When your parent (or child or friend) hasn’t returned a phone call in three months?
• When you have finished your Christmas shopping list and Christmas is still three months away?
• When you know God will restore all things and Christ hasn’t returned and difficult times have come (2 Tim. 3:1ff) and they seem to be getting worse?

It’s hard to wait.  It’s hard to be patient — both for inconsequential things and essential things. 

The story of Jesus’ arrival reminds us of God’s nature, His provision, and of our responsibilities as we wait for His promises to be fulfilled.  After Jesus is born, Luke tells several short stories — the naming of Jesus, the sacrifice of Joseph and Mary, and the songs of joy from Simeon and Anna.  All those stories reflect what those who waited for Jesus were doing — they were faithful. 

Their faithfulness informs us for how we are also called to wait for the completion of our salvation — and the fulfillment of all God’s other promises.  What do we learn from the faithful waiting of those who anticipated His first arrival?  Through multiple examples we are told —

Because you have seen God’s salvation, be faithful.

No, we haven’t seen the end of our salvation, but in Scripture we have seen the provision of the Savior, His sufficient life of obedience, and His death and resurrection to provide our salvation; and we have seen His faithfulness in so many promises in the Scriptures.  And we have seen a multitude of faithful believers who have preceded us, including the first people to observe the Savior.  From these examples, we learn of at least three manifestations of faithfulness while we wait…

1. Having Seen God’s Salvation, Be Faithfully Obedient (vv. 21-24)
2. Having Seen God’s Salvation, Be Faithfully Hopeful (vv. 25-35)
3. Having Seen God’s Salvation, Be Faithfully Grateful (vv. 36-38)

Download the rest of this sermon on Luke 2:21-38.

The audio will be posted on the GBC website by Tuesday.