Whether you are here in person or engaging from home, we are thankful you have chosen to worship with us today. If it is your first time, welcome! we would love to get to know you better. Would you consider filling out our Next Steps card and let us know you stopped by?

At Grace Family we focus our worship on Sunday to impact our lives every other day of the week as well. We also believe no one is perfect but everyone is welcome to worship God with us. So, no matter where you're from, what you've done, or what your week has been like, let's worship God and learn from His word together today.

Luke 2:25-35

25 At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was  eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him 26 and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, 28 Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, 29 “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, 

as you have promised. 30 I have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared for all people. 32 He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!” 

33 Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. 35 As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”

Eagerly waiting -  prosdechomai - “look forward” “wait” “receive”

Waiting with anticipation!

 qahav - “wait” - Related to the word qav, which means cord or measuring line.

What are you waiting for?

Waiting is inevitable!

But how you wait is not.

Simeon waited with hopeful expectation. for God’s salvation because he trusted God’s promises.

YOUR HOPES LIST

1) “I GOT TO HAVE”

2) “I WANT TO HAVE”

3) “I WANT TO HAVE”

4) “I WANT TO HAVE”

5) “I WANT TO HAVE”

Simeon waited with hopeful expectation for God’s salvation.

Isaiah 42:6

 “I, the LORD, have called you to demonstrate my righteousness. 

   I will take you by the hand and guard you, 

  and I will give you to my people, Israel, 

   as a symbol of my covenant with them. 

  And you will be a light to guide the nations. 

Exodus 19:5-6

5 Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. 6 And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.” 

Simeon waited with hopeful expectation for God’s salvation because he trusted God's promises.

God, His promises, & His ability to keep them were the source of Simeon's hope.

Tim Keller summarized Victor Frankl's thoughts on how people responded to the trauma of Nazi concentration camps in three ways.

1) Lost all principles.

2) Gave up.

3) Became quietly heroic.

The difference was their source of hope.

What are you waiting for?

What is your “I got to have”?

What is your source for believing you will get it?

If the source of your hope comes with an expiration date, then your “I got to have” will eventually fail you.

Waiting is one of the most underappreciated gifts and mercies of God.

Having to wait helps identify what we are truly hoping for and what we believe will give it to us.

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