Think of the hundreds of people who were probably in the temple in Jerusalem when Mary and Joseph brought in the infant Jesus to “redeem” Him as the Firstborn with the poor man’s sacrifice of two doves or pigeons, according to the Mosaic Law.

Think of the opportunity . . . to see their salvation with their own eyes. To see THE MESSIAH. EMMANUEL, God with them, in the flesh. Imagine the life-changing opportunity.

Almost ALL of them missed it. They didn’t notice. They weren’t paying attention, too distracted by their own concerns or worldly cares. Or maybe they saw and never gave a second thought.

Just another miserable, poor man and his family. Nothing interesting to see there. Such people were all over the place.

Anna and Simeon recognized Jesus. They saw what was truly going on. They lived humble, simple, holy lives, trusting in God, and because of that, they had eyes to see and ears to hear. They had attuned their hearts and the minds to God’s wavelength, so to speak, and they were able to listen when the still, small voice of God whispered to them, “HIM. IT’S HIM.”

This is why it is so critical to pray daily–to take time to sit in the silence and in Scripture and learn to listen to the voice of God. If we do, like Anna and Simeon, we won’t have to fear that we won’t hear Him.