Devotional Reading for: 2/2/2007 The Presentation of Our Lord | Associated Scripture Readings: Luke 2:21-40 Exodus 13:11–13 Psalm 84 |
Dedicated | |
They brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord. Luke 2:22 | |
On this day, the Christian Church observes the Presentation of Our Lord, marking the occasion on which Mary and Joseph presented the baby Jesus at the temple. According to Jewish law, the firstborn son of each family was to be brought to God and dedicated to His service. At the same time, a sacrifice of two birds was to be offered to the Lord, the lives of the animals given in exchange for the life of the child. As Jesus’ earthly parents held their infant in the temple, they must have been awed by the appropriateness of what they were doing. They were presenting to God His own Son, offering His life to the service of the One to whom it already belonged. At the end of His earthly life, Jesus offered a sacrifice of His own. Not two doves, but rather His own body was given up on the cross. And as He made His sacrifice, Jesus presented to the Lord a new child—you and me. We have been brought before God and dedicated to Him, with hearts made clean and pure by the blood of Jesus. Through Christ, our lives are given to God, and we know the joy of serving in His presence. | |
Father and Lord, because Your Son’s life was offered up to You in the temple and on the cross for me, now take my life and make it Yours. For Jesus’ sake. Amen. |
I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. Philippians 4:11b
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