When Adam and Eve sinned, the very first promise of God was the Messiah. Although it took 42 generations from Abraham to Jesus, God never forgot his promise. In fact, Simeon was so happy to see the Messiah to the point that he said, “Lord let your servant go in peace. For I have seen the salvation of Israel.” Anna, on the other hand, said upon seeing the Messiah that the child would be the redemption of Israel.

In the Gospel, the Jews in the synagogue were overjoyed not only because the Messiah was in their midst, but because the Messiah was the Son of God. In other words, God gives more than usual.

That is why…

1. Seek first the kingdom of God. Make him the Master and not money. He will always provide. He has a plan and he will never abandon us.
2. In all things always be grateful. We cannot tell life. Sometimes, we are up, sometimes we are down. Sometimes, it is quiet, sometimes, there are storms. Yet, whatever our situation, there is so much still to be grateful.
3. By nature, God will always bless us. Look at a tree. It grows from a seed to a big tree. Then it bears fruit, and more trees can be planted. God will always bless us.

Hence, we remember the saying, “When God blesses you, raise your standard of giving and not your standard of living.”