Seeing God's Blessings

Luke 2
Lord, now you are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all peoples.

There is a story going around right now that I find very humorous. There were three sons who wanted to help their mom celebrate her 70th birthday. They knew she had had a hard life working long hours, working diligently to bring them up and educate them, and all three of them had done well financially.

The first son set out, came back and told his brothers, "You know, I bought Mom a house. It has everything in it she could possibly want." The second son said, "Well, I bought her a Mercedes in her favorite color." The third son, knowing how Mother had loved to read her Bible, said, "Well I can top both of those gifts. I bought her a parrot that can quote the entire Bible. It took people twelve years to train this bird to do that."

They gave the gifts to their mother, and she was delighted. Shortly after that, each one received a thank you note from their mother. To the first son she wrote, "Son, thank you for the house. It's wonderful. It's beyond anything I have ever imagined."

To the second son she wrote, "Thank you for the car. It's just great to be able to have a dependable vehicle and one that is so nice. I couldn't imagine having that wonderful of a vehicle ever in my life."

To the third son she wrote, "Thanks for the chicken. It was delicious."

Well, that lady just did not see that parrot for what it really was, did she? Sometimes we do that. We just do not see things for what they really are. I wonder how many blessings we have missed because we did not have the right perspective, or perhaps we were not waiting expectantly to see the blessings.

In Luke chapter 2, there's a story about a man named Simeon. He had been promised by God that he would not die until he had seen the coming Messiah. Jesus was born, and eight days later when Mary and Joseph took Him into the temple, Simeon was waiting there. He recognized immediately that this was the Christ-Child, the One for whom he had waited, and he rejoiced. He took the baby into his arms, and he praised God saying, "Lord, now you are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word."

Simeon was waiting, looking expectantly, for that Child - for that blessing. I wonder how many times I have missed the blessing because I have not been looking with the right expectations; I have not been waiting to see what God has in store for me; or perhaps I have not been looking with eyes that are seeing things from God's perspective.

I challenge you as you go through this week to ask God each day, "God, help me to see what you have for me. Help me not to miss the blessing. Help me to see things for what they really are in Your sight and recognize Your goodness and Your greatness." I guarantee if you will do that, you will see blessings like you have never seen before.

By Dr. Ann Shorb

Find out more about Christian counseling.

Related Articles and Devotionals:
His Victory Over Death is an Example for Those that Love Him
Ask and Receive
Finding Peace Through Christ's Death
Count Your Blessings

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