January 3 Persistent Obedience

Luke 2:21-24 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived. 22 When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” 

WHY take pigeons to the temple? God’s law commanded this as a process of circumcision of the male child and purification for the new mother. Leviticus 12:3-5 And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4 Then she shall continue for thirty-three days in the blood of her purifying… And when the days of her purifying are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting (now the temple) a lamb a year old for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering…8 And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.  
     This is God’s law. Mary and Joseph took the pigeons to the temple because their lives are based on this core value: Obey God’s commands.
      This most basic value of life is demonstrated in this quiet obedient couple. There were no angels with trumpets announcing the Savior coming into town. There was no heavenly music, and there was no parade of the shepherds and their friends rejoicing over the child Jesus.
     The One who would make this sacrifice law obsolete by becoming the Sacrifice for mankind, came that day in the arms of his parents. Joseph and Mary persistently obeyed God’s commands.
     This is worship. This is righteousness. Matthew says, “And her husband Joseph was a righteous man.” (1:19) Joseph and Mary are living into their core value: Obey God’s commands.
     Do you feel their worshipful wonder and awe of a God who has shown himself to them in this intimate way? Knowing what Jesus has done for you, what is your core value? Do you live in worshipful awe of the Savior’s salvation?

Prayer: May our offerings, Father, be offerings of worship to you. Draw our hearts to righteous living, obeying your commands. In Jesus’ name, amen.