Anna’s Gift to Others

We are winding down the events of the Christmas story, looking at some of the things and people that we read about after Christ’s birth.  Today we read about the prophetess, Anna.  Let’s read Luke 2:36-38:  36 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; 37 and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

Like Simeon from the last two days, Anna is given a special gift of seeing the Messiah.  Anna was obviously a woman whose life was devoted to serving her God.  But it is the last phrase that I want to focus on…”spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem”.  God is always at work in the lives of people.  People were still coming into relationship with Jesus before Jesus was even born.  They were looking for redemption.  They found it by faith.   God then brought to them the news about the redemption they were looking for.  God still works the same way today.  Even in places and lands where they don’t know “the Christmas story”, God is at work.  As He reveals Himself to them, and they respond, God will get them the “news” about Jesus so that they too can be redeemed.  Anna’s gift to others was the knowledge of Jesus.  Our gift to others this time of year can also be the “news” about Jesus.  Let’s follow Anna’s example and tell them.