Inner Thoughts Revealed

Meditation from Luke Chapter 2

Simeon prophesizes about Jesus that through Him “the inner thoughts of many will be revealed” (2:35). The revealing of the inner thoughts is seen in this chapter in a beautiful pattern.

1.      Praise & Peace: The angels gathered “praising God” (2:13) and saying “on earth peace among” (2:14) people.

If we truly praise God who is in the highest heaven, we will also strive for peace among people. Praising God is the vertical relationship (between man and God) and peace is the horizontal relationship (between man and man). James 3:9, 10 says that with the same mouth with which we praise God we curse people! But let us praise God and bless people.

2.      Proclaim & Ponder: The shepherds proclaimed what they heard about Jesus to others (2:17) and Mary pondered everything about Jesus in her heart (2:19).

What do we ponder in our heart and what do we proclaim through our mouth? If Jesus and His word is the pondering of our heart, we will proclaim Him. We are not chosen to gossip about people, but to share the gospel. Out of the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks says Mathew 12:34. Let’s ponder not on others but on Jesus and His word, so that we can proclaim Him.

3.      Purification & Present: Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Jerusalem for purification so as to present him to the Lord (2:22). We need to purify ourselves so that we may become a pleasing present to the Lord. The Father gave us the greatest gift, His Son and the greatest gift that we can give to Him is ourselves! We are called to be holy, as He is holy (1 Peter 1:16). Hebrews 9:14 say that if we clean our conscience we can serve the living God.

4.      Prophet & Prayer: Anna was a Prophet who spent day and night in fasting and prayer (2:37). Only when we spend time with God in prayer we can become His messengers. We are called not to speak problems into the lives of people, but God’s word and that is possible only through a prayer-filled life. God awakens us every morning to listen to Him so that we may know how to sustain the weary with a word (Isaiah 50:4).

5.      Parent / Personal Preferences & Purpose: Jesus’ earthly parents were searching for Him and after three days they find Him in the temple. When they share their great anxiety to Him, He replies, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” (2:49).

We are called to fulfill God’s purpose more than our parents’ wishes and our personal desires! We should not allow neither people’s anxiety nor our personal preferences to direct us, but only God’s purpose and His will.

Even as our inner thoughts are revealed through these meditation, let’s truly introspect ourselves and commit to be transformed.