Luke 28b-35

28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;

30 for my eyes have seen your salvation

31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

  Blessings are a lost “art” (so to speak) that is rarely practiced in the church body today.  Well, at least in the more conservative circles that I am a part of right now.  Either way, it is something that is not commonly practiced for some reason.  Looking at the content we can learn and apply this to blessings that we can give to others. 

  Simeon, as we see here, was a man who was interested in what the Lord had in store for him.  In some way the Lord promised Simeon he would see God’s Salvation.  God was faithful in that promise as Simeon was faithful to recognize God’s work in bringing His salvation to Simeon before he died.  He spoke truth about the Child and what God’s Salvation would bring.  Also, when Jesus’ father and mother heard this Simeon spoke to Mary and said that she would personally be affected by His ministry as well.

  Now how can we apply this to our children that are born?  First of all we must take an interest in the Lord.  It does no one in the church body any good if we are not dedicated to listening and learning from God.  When we want to learn we need to shut our mouths and listen to what God is teaching us.  Second, we need to have faith that what the Lord has promised us will come to pass.  Simeon showed this faith in his blessing of the child.  Third, we can speak the truth over the children.  Seek out those who have bore children lately and lay hands on them; take an active interest in what the Lord will do in that child’s life.  Pray the Lord will pierce their heart as He did to Mary.  God’s salvation was brought into the world as a child, fragile and weak.  Bless those who have come fragile and weak, speaking the truth to them as it has been spoken to us.  Lastly, never stop speaking the truth to these children.  This does NOT end when they become a year old or 90 years old.  Continue to bless people with the truth of God’s salvation always.