I love when God gives you that kiss from heaven, the orchestration of divine appointments, letting you know that He has complete control of every part of your journey. And If we’re not careful we can nonchalantly shrug off these God moments with thinking they are just natural circumstances. Losing the incredible joy of knowing the creator of the universe loves you enough to wrap around your situation the warmth and comfort of the evidence of His love and value for you.

Now back to doctor Luke’s story in Luke 2:25-35 where he says there was a righteous man named Simeon who had yielded himself to the Holy Spirit which had led him to come to the temple. In verse 26 we read, “it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ”. It was a divine set up! There in the temple comes Mary, Joseph and Jesus the Christ wrapped in probably her most beautiful covering. The moment that Simeon and the world had been waiting

Just when we feel things are over, God steps in with His touch and says “They are just Beginning”!

for is now upon them, with no dress rehearsal the camera of history is running. With no doubt to the readers we are convinced of the Holy Spirit’s working in that one place with and for so many people. But truthfully for the characters of this pivotal moment in time they could have brushed it off as just another day of longing in their lives. Yet, this day not only was fulfilling a promise to Simeon who was waiting in faith, but continued to confirm to Mary the words of God, that Gabriel had said nine months earlier, and also affirming to Joseph that his faith filled obedience was important and ordained by God.

It had now been 40 days since the birth of Jesus, the shepherds were now back tending the sheep in the fields and the excitement of the heavenly announcement had become news of yesterday. The hustle and bustle of this extraordinary season was transitioning into a way of life as this new family had already taken baby Jesus to be circumcised on the eighth day and now Mary and Joseph enter the temple on her completion of days of purification for the birth of a male child. (Lev 12:1-8) It is interesting to me that in the same length of time as the Holy Spirit had taken Jesus into

Our Life Struggles fade in light of His affirming Divine Kiss from Heaven

the wilderness for forty days before He was thrust into His earthly ministry of power, leading to His bodily sacrifice on the cross. We now see these 30 years earlier that the child Jesus has also been in waiting the same length of time for His dedication into the world as the glorious Savior with a sacrifice for Him in the Temple ceremony. (Lk. 2:24)

And “folks, that’s not all”! At that very moment, the scripture also points out, a widow named Anna who had been travailing for most of her adult life, possibly up to 84 years, in prayer and fasting, (Lk 2:36-38) Interceding in the temple for the spiritual birthing of the gift of God to the world. Who by the Hand of the Father’s fate was just brought in for His dedication for the world! (Jn. 3:16)

They all seemed to be assembled and brought together through divine means. God doesn’t just throw things together like we do in making “Everything but the kitchen sink” soup. Each of these characters had a unique story of personal hardship and struggle in their walk of faith. But God uses them as part of His gloriously orchestrated triumphant entry. It was in this moment that the world, as well as each of these characters experienced God’s divine kiss and assurance of His redeeming plan.