“According to Your Word” (Luke 2:15-32)

“Lord, now let you your servant depart in peace, according to your word” (vs29).

The Lord acts according to His word, doing what He has said faithfully.

The shepherds, representing gospel preachers, hear the word for ourselves, then we check it out by experience, believing on Him… then, we receive the fruit of believing and declare good news to you - “And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord has made known unto us.  And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.  And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.  And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.  And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them” (vs15-20).  We preach what we’ve seen and heard, and while people may not receive it immediately in full assurance and faith, they are WISE to ponder it, asking the Lord, “How shall this be”, in faith, rather than unbelief (Luke 1:18-20, 34-38).

Secondly, the gospel makes us obedient.  We don’t merely hear the word, but we do it - “And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcision of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.  And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons” (vs21-25).

Mary and Joseph weren’t perfect, and they had obedience, both: they weren’t PERFECT saints in character, but their sinfulness didn’t stop them from believing on Christ and loving as commanded (1 John 3:23).  We need the Savior, so we believe on Him, and we love as He gave us commandment because we are of God: we’ve heard the word and RECEIVED it as TRUTH, so our actions bear witness to our faith.

Thirdly, the promise is Jesus Himself, so that we see Him in the volume of the book, and we have the things promised THEREBY.  He is the Savior, the Light to lighten our path, and He is the glory of God - “And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now let you 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 people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel” (vs25-32).

We learn by faith in Him that we’ve seen all we need to “depart in peace” and be with God:  we’re ASSURED of His favor!

He died for us, so He removed our sins.  He rose again, so we’re assured of His ability.  He shall subdue the flesh by the Spirit, so we have SURE hope over sins. He, the Son of God, shall never fail “whosoever believes on Him” (Acts 10:43); He shall save us forever, no matter the pains of death or the weakness of us.