SIMEON’S BUCKET LIST

LUKE 2:20-35

Pastor Rick Jackson

A bucket list is a list of all the things you want to accomplish before you die. A few years ago, a former student of mine made her bucket list. The item I know she is doing is running a marathon or a half-marathon in every state of the Union. She has completed over 40 thus far. I was inspired by her and decided to NOT run a marathon in any state. I have already completed all 50.

In these verses we find that Simeon had a bucket list. In his bucket list he had…

I. THE GOD ADVANTAGE [v. 26-29]

1. Given by God [v. 25-26, Psalm 37:4] Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

2. Granted by God [v. 27-28, Ps. 37:4]

3. Grateful to God [v. 29, Colossians 3:15]

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

If you are to have a successful bucket list you need…

II. THE GOD ACCEPTANCE [v. 30-33]

1. Accept His Saviour [v. 30, Jn. 1:12]

2. Accept His Sacrifice [v. 31, Hebrews 10:5, 10]

Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

3. Accept His Singularity [v. 32, Acts 4:12, Jn. 14:6]

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

If you have built your bucket list around the God acceptance then you should realize there is bound to be …

III. THE GOD ACTIVITY [v. 34-35]

1. Signing [v. 34; 11:16, 29-30]

2. Swordplay [v. 35, Heb. 4: 12]

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

3. Showing [v. 35, 12:1-3]