Daily Devotional for December 31

 

December 31                                                       Luke 2:22-40
            

                    New Year's Eve

No matter how wonderful tonight's celebrations, they can-
not compare to that wonderful and miraculous new age that
Simeon and Anna saw when Mary and Joseph brought the
infant Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem.

Simeon, it had been prophesied, would not die before seeing
the Messiah. One look at the baby Jesus and Simeon knew that
this child was to be the Christ, "the consolation of Israel."
With this promise fulfilled, he was content to die, and so he
prayed the prayer we call the Nunc Dimittis: "Lord, now let
your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my
eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the
presence of all people. ..."

Then Simeon uttered an amazing prophecy. He called Jesus
"a light for revelation to the gentiles, and for glory to your
people Israel." Jesus would be not only the Jewish Messiah
long foretold, but a light to all people!

The prophetess Anna confirmed Simeon's prophecy and
"spoke about the child to all who were looking for the redemp-
tion of Jerusalem." What a new year had dawned in Jerusalem
that day!

As we celebrate another new year's coming tonight, consider
that Jesus represents a new beginning in our lives. Jesus is a
light for revelation to all. Jesus is the Saviour. Jesus is the bright
morning star that announces the dawn. Jesus is the greatest
new year ever seen!

       Wonderful God, now let me depart in peace from this
   old year, secure in the knowledge that my eyes have seen
           your salvation in Jesus, the light for revelation to
                                   all people. Amen.

​

From The Road to Emmaus - An inclusive devotional Edited by Joseph W. Houle

Emmaus House of Prayer - Washington D.C