Devoted To God's Standards | Luke 2:22-35
The Shifting Standards of Our World
We are all used to living in a world of standards. From the rules at our workplaces to the unspoken codes of conduct in our communities, standards help keep life predictable. But as the sermon highlighted, these rules and norms have a habit of shifting. Who would have thought that once you could smoke on airplanes, but not wear a hat in a restaurant? Now, hats are common, and smoking indoors is almost unheard of.
The world’s standards change with time, trends, and technology. What was once controversial becomes normal, and vice versa. However, in a world of moving goalposts, God calls His followers to pursue standards that are set by Him—ones rooted in His Word and character, not in cultural convenience.
God’s Unchanging Standards for His People
The Scripture in Luke 2:22-35 presents us with a beautiful, often-overlooked moment in Jesus’ early life. Mary and Joseph, following the centuries-old Law of Moses, bring baby Jesus to Jerusalem to be dedicated. This act of devotion wasn’t just a cultural ritual—it was an act of obedience to God’s unchanging standards.
The pastor highlighted three key standards that God calls every Christian to pursue:
1. Pure in Heart and Life
Purity is about much more than staying away from certain behaviors. The sermon reminded us that biblical purity means being made into the image of Christ, not just avoiding sin but living in a way that brings honor and glory to God. It’s about letting God “straighten out our crooked lines” and “smooth out our rough edges.”
Mary’s ceremonial purification after childbirth, as laid out in Leviticus, was symbolic. It wasn’t about moral guilt—it was a reminder of humanity’s need for spiritual cleansing in the presence of a holy God. That visible act pointed to the greater reality that every person needs moral and spiritual purification.
In practical terms, God calls us to “be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1). Holiness grows out of the hope we have in the grace that will be fully revealed to us when Jesus returns. As the pastor explained, Christians live in an ongoing process of sanctification—daily being transformed by the Holy Spirit to look more like Christ.
This is not a call to perfectionism or self-effort, but to a grace-fueled pursuit of purity. Whether it’s our thoughts, our relationships, our speech, or our motives, God gently confronts us and invites us to pursue a life set apart for Him.
2. Patience in the Journey
Patience is perhaps one of the most challenging virtues in our fast-paced world. Yet, in Luke 2, we meet Simeon—a man described as righteous and devout, who patiently waited for years to see God’s promise fulfilled in the coming of the Messiah. The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die before seeing the Lord’s Christ. Every time a baby was brought into the temple, Simeon must have wondered, “Is this the One?”
Finally, led by the Spirit, Simeon encounters Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus. He holds the child and declares that God’s salvation has come. Simeon’s patient waiting is rewarded with the blessing of witnessing the Messiah with his own eyes.
For us, patience means trusting God’s timing in the grand story of our lives. As the pastor pointed out, if you’re a Christ-follower who isn’t satisfied with your current state, that’s a good thing—it means you recognize there is more growing and maturing to do. God is at work, and His promises will unfold in His perfect time. Our job is to keep waiting, trusting, and seeking Him in the meantime.
3. Pierced Hearts That Are Open to God
The most poignant part of the passage comes when Simeon prophesies over Mary. He tells her that Jesus will be the cause of the rising and falling of many in Israel, and that “a sword will pierce through your own soul also.” Mary would indeed face unimaginable pain as she watched her son be rejected, opposed, and ultimately crucified.
This “piercing” isn’t just for Mary. The sermon reminded us that everyone who encounters Jesus is confronted with the truth about themselves. The Gospel exposes our hearts—the good, the bad, and the things we’d rather keep hidden. Like Mary, we have to confront our own need for forgiveness and transformation. It’s an invitation to let God search our hearts, show us any grievous ways, and lead us in the path of everlasting life (Psalm 139:23-24).
Salvation: A Process and a Promise
A powerful theme in the message was the threefold nature of salvation:
Justification: The moment we trust Christ, we are declared righteous, forgiven, and accepted.
Sanctification: A lifelong process of being gradually transformed into the image of Christ, through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Glorification: The future, glorious completion of our salvation when we are made perfect in God’s presence.
Our pursuit of God’s standards happens in the context of grace—not to earn His love, but because He has loved us first and called us to something higher. Every step—purity, patience, and the willingness to be pierced and changed—is empowered by God’s Spirit and rooted in the hope of a future where sin and struggle will be no more.
Living It Out: Practical Steps
What does it look like to live out this devotion in practical ways? Here are some key takeaways to help you grow in alignment with God’s unchanging standards:
Examine Your Heart: Make it a regular practice to invite God’s searching light into your life. Where do you need Him to purify your motives, thoughts, or behavior?
Embrace the Process: Don’t get discouraged by your imperfections. Remember, sanctification is a journey. Celebrate the progress you’ve made and trust God to complete the work He’s started.
Wait Well: Patience isn’t passive—it’s active trust. Fill the waiting with prayer, worship, service, and obedience, knowing that God is at work even in the “not yets” of life.
Accept God’s Grace: If you’ve never put your trust in Christ, today can be your moment of justification—the day the Judge declares you acquitted. For those already walking with God, rely daily on His grace to empower your pursuit of holiness.
Share the Hope: Let the transformation in your life point others to the source of your hope. Invite others to encounter God’s standards—not as restrictive rules, but as the loving guidance of a God who wants the very best for His children.
Conclusion
While the world’s standards may ebb and flow, God’s standards are timeless. Like Mary, Joseph, and Simeon, we are called to purity, patience, and hearts open to God’s refining work. The journey isn’t easy, and perfection isn’t expected, but through Christ’s grace, we can become people who not only live by God’s standards but also reflect His love to a world desperately looking for something firm to stand on.
Let’s commit, as the sermon challenged, to be people not defined by perfection, but by our devotion to the One who is perfect. In our pursuit of purity, our patience through life’s delays, and the willingness to let God pierce and transform our hearts, we will discover the abundant, unshakeable life He has always intended for us.
Keywords: God’s standards, Luke 2:22-35, holiness, purity, patience, sanctification, justification, glorification, Christian living, Mary mother of Jesus, devotion to God, spiritual growth, biblical standards, Simeon, pierced heart, sermon lessons, Christian blog
