Daughter of the Temple

December 18

(Luke 2:36-37 NIV) "There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, {37} and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying."

(1 Kings 8:28-30 NIV) "Yet give attention to your servant's prayer and his plea for mercy, O Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day. {29} May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, this place of which you said, 'My Name shall be there,' so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. {30} Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive."

(1 John 2:28 NIV) "And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming."

When Joseph and Mary went to the temple with the baby Jesus, a prophetess named Anna was there. She was a widow whose husband had died just seven years after their marriage. She was now eighty-four years old, and Scripture says she worshipped “night and day” at the temple, praying and fasting before God. Like Simeon, she was waiting on the Christ to come. She would not be disappointed. Anyone who worships night and day, fasting and praying, will not be disappointed, for God’s eyes are open night and day toward our temples. He will hear the supplication of our hearts, and reward us. When we worship the Lord night and day, we will not be ashamed when He comes to His temple. We will be able to approach the Lord with confidence in His grace, with no shame in our hearts, and as with Anna, our eyes will behold the King of kings. Merry Christmas! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day