Duty or Delight?

     After months forging their way through the pounding surf of the unforgiving high seas, Hernando Cortez and his men triumphantly stood on the shores of Mexico. Planting the Spanish flag on the beachhead, they proceeded to unload the ships’ supplies. The Aztec Empire and their storied hoard of gold lay ahead. Daydreams of returning home to Spain vanished. Mutinous ponderings from days earlier ceased instantly.

    Cortez left them no choice.

     “Burn the ships!” he commanded. What nature had failed to do on the arduous voyage from Spain, Cortez accomplished with several well-placed torches. Eleven fire-engulfed, smoke-encased, flame-crackling ships vanished into the air and beneath the ocean’s depths. No turning back. Cortez understood the definition of duty. He left his men no choice.

     Cortezian commitments, however, are not what God desires. There was no forced servitude for Joseph or Mary either. They chose to follow from the beginning. “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary had answered. “May it be to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38).  Even when the skies darkened and the seas billowed in anger, Joseph and Mary continually chose to push on. 

     “On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived. When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord’), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: ‘a pair of doves or two young pigeons.’”(Luke 2:21-24)

    The trustworthiness of God’s Word, the Law of the Lord, lit the fuse that sparked the fire in this couple’s hearts long ago. The angels’ earlier appearances stoked the flames of joy-filled, willing obedience:

     1.  Jesus was circumcised. 

     2.  He was named ‘Jesus.’ 

     3.  Mary was purified through the offering of a pair of birds

     4.  Jesus was presented/consecrated unto the Lord. 

     Mary and Joseph needed no forced march to follow the Lord’s commands. Cortez wished he could have counted on his men to make such whole-hearted commitments. The closer the fire burns to the heart, the higher the odds of such dedication.

     “That’s great,” you may say. “But I haven’t had angels telling me what to do. Is it realistic to think that I could or should have such whole-hearted conviction that leads to immediate obedience? To be in a place where obedience is a delight?”

     “Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout.  He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. Then the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘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 for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’ The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.” (Vs. 25-33)

     What prompted Simeon’s commitment? He was “righteous and devout,” and “the Holy Spirit was upon him.” The prophet Isaiah foretold of a Messiah who would come and comfort His people – a Messiah that would also be a light to the Gentiles. No angelic appearances spurred on this time-tested veteran. The Word was Simeon’s foundation, the Holy Spirit His guide. Obedience to the Law and the Spirit called this meeting to order. Is it any different for you? Do you have the Word and the Spirit as your guide?

     “Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” (V. 34-35)

     Feel another wave crash against the hull of the couple’s faith. The joyous occasion was dampened by a squall arising in the distance. Not all would rejoice at the birth of this child. Not all would worship him as the Messiah, the Redeemer of mankind.

     What about you? Do you rejoice at the birth of the Christ-child? Or has age zapped you of that passion? You may be saying, “I’m not young anymore like Joseph and Mary. My strength has long since departed. The once-roaring fire carries more smoke than flames skyward these days. Let the young ones do the work. What value do I have?  Aren’t these my golden years, my time to relax and enjoy?”

     There’s no such thing as retirement in God’s kingdom. Consider Anna’s life:

     “There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.  She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them [Mary and Joseph] at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking

     This woman was in her Golden Years, yet actively seeking to advance the Kingdom of God. Whether you are male or female, young or old, the Lord delights in your service and he wants you to also delight in serving him. But never forget that you are not the source who fuels the flame of delight: ‘…it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure’ (Philippians 2:13).  Follow the Flame and join the sacred dance!

   Prayer

“Holy Spirit, place a fire in our souls that ignites a desire to always obey your Word out of a joy-filled delight, not a dour, drudge-filled duty. Help us to be like Joseph and Mary who obeyed your Law and your messengers without hesitation. Open our eyes that we, too, may see wonderful things in your law. Let it be that your statutes are our delight and our counselors. Teach us, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then we will keep them to the end. We want to be like Simeon who never lost hope in your promises. Father, help us to be righteous and devout like Simeon – joyfully, expectantly walking in your ways. We praise your holy name that we, too, have the Holy Spirit upon us. Forgive us for walking blindly along so many times each day. Bind Satan as he seeks to distract us with the stuff, hurry, noise, and trinkets of this world. Grant us ears to hear you, eyes to see you, and hearts to move where you lead, Holy Spirit. Help us to remember that your salvation is for all people. Your desire is for it to reach far beyond where we live. Lord Jesus, help us to see how you want us to participate in evangelizing the nations. And help us to not be surprised when the thoughts of some hearts reveal their animosity towards you. Though many are called, few will follow. Grant us hearts like Anna’s that we might passionately worship you night and day for our lifetimes. Show us how to do that in the midst of our day-to-day lives. Draw us close to you. Never let us go.” Ω