Sarah & I would like to share with you one of our "first" traditions (if we can call it a tradition yet). We decided to get an Advent calendar for our Christmas season! 1. Because I don't remember the last time I ever went through an Advent calendar 2. Because it's cool and we live in Seattle 3. Because it's biblical (thought I should add this one). We are celebrating Advent, because the word means "coming," and reminds Sarah & I of the best "coming" there ever was! The arrival of our Rescuer, Jesus Christ!
Day 19! December 19th!
Sarah and I enjoyed reading through the final sections of Luke's Advent story. After Simeon's blessing came Anna.
"And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day." Luke 2: 36-37
Here was Anna, of the tribe of Asher, one of the sons of Jacob. Her name would have been known in the temple through her connection with this wealthy tribe, Asher. I'm sure men would have been whispering, "There goes Anna," "Do you see her over there? That's Anna, the prophetess."
It seems that Anna, being a women amidst a lot of men, would have gone unnoticed. But she was a female prophet, a very distinguished gift that wasn't exhibited in many women in those days. As one of the older individuals in the temple, she would have been respected and revered, mostly known through what she said when she spoke.
What I love about Luke's account of Anna, is that he zooms in on what she does privately vs. what she does publicly. Anna worships her God through prayer and fasting. She withholds from food to have more of God. She withholds from filling up her day with too many things and instead spends more time in prayer with God. God was worth so much more to her than other things, and because He satisfied her she was willing to do without other things. I think we can learn much from Anna in how she worshiped her God.
What is worth cutting out to have more of God? What are we willing to do without to enjoy more of God? What are we willing to say no to so that we have enough time to rest and enjoy being with the Lord? These should be good things to ponder, since the end result is more time with God! This is what Sarah and I want, because we do know that He does satisfy our souls! Anna, Mary and many others understood this as well.
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42
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