Sold Out For God

and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying

Luke 2:37

In my country Nigeria some time ago, a popular pastor lost his wife. It was a very disturbing moment for all his lovers and quite frankly one could only imagine how much he must have been disturbed. 

Less than one year later, he announced his marriage to a new wife. This sprung up a number of debates. Some groups were of the opinion that this was rather fast while some praised him for not giving room for unnecessary scandals. It doesn’t really matter which side of the debate, one thing is clear though, when a person loses a spouse, it almost becomes a community burden where everybody is concerned and almost ready to provide some kind of support or recommendation. Most of the time, this leads to pressure even in a liberal society like we have today. 

However, in the days of Jesus when a woman’s value was mostly defined by her marital status, losing a spouse, especially a husband is a big deal. To decide not to marry afterwards is as good as declaring war between you and the society you live in. Yet, in such a conservative clime, “There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.[e] She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying” (Luke 2:36-37). 

Anna could have been angry with God and spent her life asking God why he would let her lose her husband just after seven years. Instead, she looked at the situation differently, she turned to the Lord and became sold out to him; She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying. Like Simeon from yesterday’s devotion, she brought forth a word of prophecy concerning the child Jesus. 

Anna is for us today a perfect example of a woman who had every reason to be angry with God but instead turned to God. Life will throw things at you that sometimes you will wonder if you deserved. Situations will arise that will make you question if your commitment and service to God over the years were worth it. In those moments what will be our attitude? Will it be just a time for us to say goodbye to the Lord or will it be a time for us to hold on to him even when it doesn’t make sense. 

Like the Gospel musician Don Moen said, “though I may not understand all the plans you have for me, my life is in your hands and with the eyes of faith I can clearly see that God is good all the time, even in the darkest night”

Give yourself wholly to him.

PRAYER