PLEASING GOD
G. B. Grant
I thought of Anna, who was marked by going on with what was pleasing to God, serving God continually—“who did not depart from the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers”. Her whole life was devoted to God’s interests; she accepted God’s will for her though testing in this case. She had committed herself to God’s interests, serving night and day. My thought is this, that we can continually be engaged with what is pleasing to God, serving God. God saw to it that Anna had part in what was proceeding spiritually at the moment, because in her exercises she was continually occupied with what was right and pleasing to God. God saw to it that she was present at this time, at the greatest thing that had ever happened in the temple, Jesus being brought in by His parents and in the arms of Simeon.
It is an encouragement to us to continue in what is for God’s pleasure. In that way we will have part in what is going on currently in the Spirit. She did not in any way try and arrange this herself. God saw to it and overruled so that she had this favour.
How attractive this section is, Simeon with this Babe in his arms, and Anna there to have part in what was taking place. There was a good and stable condition with this woman; fastings shutting out anything of self, even legitimate things, and in prayers, being marked.by dependence on God. So it says, “and she coming up the same hour gave praise to the Lord”.
How attractive that is; God is getting His portion from this person who would not at all be though much of in the religious circles of that time, but who was, in her own exercises, committed to the Lord’s interests. I was attracted by this that God would overrule and order that she was present at this favoured time.
May it be an encouragement to us all to continue daily in our individual exercises and assembly exercises, and find that God will recompense us and bless us in our own souls with a fuller appreciation of this blessed Person, our Lord Jesus Christ. So she “spoke of him to all those who waited for redemption in Jerusalem”; what a glorious Person to speak of. She spoke of Him to those who were similarly exercised, those who were engaged with what was right and pleasing to God at that time. May the Lord encourage us on these lines.
Word in meeting for ministry, Dundee
2 July 1991