By the time my mind jumps back to the present engagement, the speaker has moved on and a few outline points have lapsed. The entire reason why I took my little tangent is completely...well, null. But it was fun, usually educational in a "refresher" sort of way.
I tend to prefer the Old Testament over the New Testament; I'm just weird that way. I think it's because I relate to the stories. They are very...human; very....imperfect. I am very imperfect and I know God gets frustrated with me. I am stubborn and stiff-necked - just like His chosen people. I see myself in the Old Testament struggles very clearly. I also relate to the idea of a people living for & serving an invisible God. He was very present, to be sure - but not tangible.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the New Testament. I just prefer the Old Testament. I have a more difficult time understanding what it would be like living amongst and serving a living/breathing Jesus of the New Testament. That blows my mind! To have access to God in the flesh standing right in front of me - someone I can see & touch - is so difficult for me to comprehend. On the one hand, it would be rather fantastic. On the other, well, I'll be perfectly honest here: I mean, he was human (like me) but...perfect in every way. It might have been annoying or really depressing. *gasp* I just can't fathom what that would be like - or my own response to it, really. At times, it probably wouldn't be very pretty.
This past Sunday, I took a tangent. We are studying the book of John. Very instructional and I'm learning a lot - or remembering things I probably forgot from my Cedarville days. Either way, I'm learning! Something the speaker said caused a chain reaction and I ended up in Luke 2 with the story of Simeon meeting the Christ-child. I love this passage. First of all, Christmas is my favorite season and of all the vignettes, Simeon's story sits at the top of the list.
Luke 2: 29-32
"Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace,
For my eyes have seen Your Salvation,
which You have prepared in the sight of all people,
A light of revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel."
Of all the New Testament Bible characters, Simeon is my favorite. He spent a lifetime looking for the Messiah and he trusted God's promise: he wouldn't die until his eyes had seen God's provision. He lived in an Old Testament world (invisible God) searching for the New Testament Jesus (visible Messiah). He lived each day to find Him and was met with success. I can't even imagine the emotions he must have felt when he saw Mary & Joseph bringing the Christ-child up the temple steps. Joy, sorrow, peace, wonder & amazement. His heart must have been overwhelmed! We are like Simeon. We live in a world where it often feels like God is invisible and we live for the day of Christ's arrival - Messiah's return.
The cool thing is: some pastors & commentators view Simeon, a New Testament story, as one of the last of the Old Testament prophets. That makes me smile.
Who's your favorite Bible character?
Thanks for stopping by today.